Yesterday I had to go to the downtown Edmonton Police Station.
That got your attention didn't it!
I have to go there once a year to apply for a police security clearance. Because I am a massage therapist, I have to annually prove to the city that I have no criminal record and can then renew my massage therapy license. I appreciate WHY the city requires this, but I HATE going to the downtown police station.
This building is not situated in the best part of downtown. Every year I can expect to see homeless people, people poorly dressed for the weather wandering aimlessly, people who are drunk, people panhandling, and an assortment of people inside the police station. And every year I have the same spectrum of emotions as I come across these souls. Usually it starts out with a bit of fear and anxiety. Then, I will admit, a bit of judgment and disapproval. And every year I ask myself "What does that say about me???"
Putting myself even more on the line for debate...I am not one who gives money to panhandlers. I DO give money to charities that I know will use that money to help people in need and I DO like giving money to the musicians who play in the subway or on the street. I am uncomfortable making eye contact with others who are wandering, drunk, or perhaps suffering from mental challenges. I will say hello if they say hello to me and I was very gracious to the man who held the door open for me as I entered the police station. And glad to help a very lost man find where he needed to go (which was just a few steps away.)
But it is the drive OUT of downtown that gets me thinking the most. The road I drive down has several homeless men and women. All the feelings of apprehension and judgement fade as I think, "That is someone's son" or "She has a Mother somewhere" Then I wonder what their story is and where they came from. Did they choose this path or did life turn this way for them?
I am still thinking about them. This blog has taken longer to write then any other. Christ would have felt nothing but compassion. I didn't feel that until I was driving home! What could I do for them? I'm not sure. But I do know that I would like to grow towards viewing all people, in all circumstances, as God would. We are, everyone of us, His children.
This snow means business
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4 comments:
I have found myself thinking on these same lines lately. Not just about the poor, homeless, drunkards either. I have also found myself wondering about the way we see and treat those who have made obvious bad choices in general, and how are we teaching our children to see them. I agree, ALL of these people need the door, the ability for change, to stay open more than they need our judgements that often times feel like we're slamming the door in their faces. I believe we need to be smart about the way that we help those that need it. We don't live in the kind of world where it's wise to hand money over to whomever whenever. I'm always amazed by the stories you hear of people feeding the men that road the rails way back when. It's a different time.
I just thought, we're really hard on ourselves sometimes. If you really wanna know about yourself and "what does that say about me?", then look at your kids. They are a reflection of your thoughts and actions. I'm guessing yours are kind, thoughtful and compassionate. So...what does that say about you?
Sorry for the long comment, but this has been on my mind too. I could go on, but I'll spare you.
Love the post. It's something to think about. May we all be a little kinder, a little more forgiving and little more helpful.
K, stepping off my pedistal now.
One of the dear sisters in my ward sent me this quote. It definitely is a great reminder to me AND it makes me think twice before I pass judgement or judge a book by the cover. It's by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and can be found in the November 2009 Ensign.
"[God] loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked. What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us."
When we lived on Whyte ave I can not tell you how MIXED my emotions were about the same thing.
I just read an incredible book by the CEO of World Vision, Richard Stearns called The Hole in Our Gospel. He talked about the hole that is in the gospel that we live by today in which we fulfill our commission to bring others to Christ for the next life, but often neglect to bring Christ to them in this life by helping to meet their needs and minister to them today, as Christ did to so many in his short walk on earth. It is very compelling and a must read, especially if you are wondering about this kind of thing. Great post! warm thoughts from down south...
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