Tonight, I was in Kensington picking up pizza for a poker game at my friend’s house. As I was walking down the street, I saw a homeless man tucked off into a corner, wearing a Santa hat and visibly shaking from the cold. He had his head down, and everyone who walked by seemed to not notice him.
I walked past him, and as I did, I felt a surge of guilt. I didn’t have any change for him, and there really wasn’t anything I could do.
While I was waiting for the pizza, I was feeling pretty bad. Why am I able to come into a warm store, swipe a piece of plastic, and leave with two huge pizzas, while this man has to freeze in the weather outside? What makes me so different? I know the answers, but they aren’t fair. In the end, all it should really come down to is he is a human, and so am I. I wish the world could work that way, but we all know it can’t.
On my way back to my car, I stopped by the man. I asked him if he wanted some pizza, and he lifted his head and told me in a very quiet voice “Sure”. As I was opening the box, I told him about how I wish I had some change for him, and that I really wish I could do better for him than just a slice of pizza. I sincerely meant it, but I’m not entirely sure if he heard me.
As I handed him his slice, I told him to be careful with it, because it had just come out of the oven. As soon as he had it, he tried to take a bite, but pulled it away from his face, and he laughed and said “It’s too hot!” I told him again to be careful with the pizza, and that I had to go. I wished him a Merry Christmas, and he gave me a smile.
I was glad that I was able to put a smile on his face, but the fact that warm food made him so giddy also made me depressed. Warm food, something so many of us take for granted was the highlight of this man’s day. Again, I felt it wasn’t fair for him. He shouldn’t have to suffer like that. I wish there was more I could have done.
I don’t feel good about myself for doing something nice for him, it actually made me feel worse. I didn’t do enough for him. He deserves better than living on the street. No one deserves to live on the street. I wish there was something more I could do.
I have a few ideas, like buying a bunch of blankets or hand warmers and handing them out or something. Maybe I will do that on one of my days off this week. It wont bring me any personal satisfaction, but I will be glad that I am making at least a tiny difference in someone’s life.
You know what? It’s settled, I’m going to go do it. Anyone want to come with?
*this is taken from my real blog, jacobsewell.wordpress.com which is why there are things that might not make sense to you, such as me being in Kensington and asking if you want to come along*
I walked past him, and as I did, I felt a surge of guilt. I didn’t have any change for him, and there really wasn’t anything I could do.
While I was waiting for the pizza, I was feeling pretty bad. Why am I able to come into a warm store, swipe a piece of plastic, and leave with two huge pizzas, while this man has to freeze in the weather outside? What makes me so different? I know the answers, but they aren’t fair. In the end, all it should really come down to is he is a human, and so am I. I wish the world could work that way, but we all know it can’t.
On my way back to my car, I stopped by the man. I asked him if he wanted some pizza, and he lifted his head and told me in a very quiet voice “Sure”. As I was opening the box, I told him about how I wish I had some change for him, and that I really wish I could do better for him than just a slice of pizza. I sincerely meant it, but I’m not entirely sure if he heard me.
As I handed him his slice, I told him to be careful with it, because it had just come out of the oven. As soon as he had it, he tried to take a bite, but pulled it away from his face, and he laughed and said “It’s too hot!” I told him again to be careful with the pizza, and that I had to go. I wished him a Merry Christmas, and he gave me a smile.
I was glad that I was able to put a smile on his face, but the fact that warm food made him so giddy also made me depressed. Warm food, something so many of us take for granted was the highlight of this man’s day. Again, I felt it wasn’t fair for him. He shouldn’t have to suffer like that. I wish there was more I could have done.
I don’t feel good about myself for doing something nice for him, it actually made me feel worse. I didn’t do enough for him. He deserves better than living on the street. No one deserves to live on the street. I wish there was something more I could do.
I have a few ideas, like buying a bunch of blankets or hand warmers and handing them out or something. Maybe I will do that on one of my days off this week. It wont bring me any personal satisfaction, but I will be glad that I am making at least a tiny difference in someone’s life.
You know what? It’s settled, I’m going to go do it. Anyone want to come with?
*this is taken from my real blog, jacobsewell.wordpress.com which is why there are things that might not make sense to you, such as me being in Kensington and asking if you want to come along*
