April 15, 2016. Not a date of historical significance other than tax day. Probably an insignificant date to most people.
Walking through Times Square in New York City with my mom, my sister, and my daughter we were taking in some of New York City’s attractions. The music was blaring from all around us. The LED lighting, from the larger than life screens surrounding us, made it easy to forget it was dark beyond the lights. We were walking along the sidewalk following the flow of traffic when the foot traffic veered to the left. So we followed and stepped to the left. There on the ground, curled up in a fetal position, was a homeless man. The street was packed with people. The blaring noise coming from numerous speakers made is difficult to carry on a conversation. People hustling on the street, up one side and down the other, barely gave even a glimpse to this Hurt Man Down. From the looks of his clothes it was apparent the concrete was probably his bed on most nights.
The towns I’ve lived haven’t been affected by homelessness as I witnessed April 15, 2016. What caused this man to be lying on the cold hard concrete amidst all the lights and noise and people? Where does his hurt come from? When did his hurt begin? I dare say no one has expectations of becoming a homeless person. As this man lay there down on the ground my eyes were opened. It was a startling awakening for me. The magnitude of homelessness is disturbing in our country of excessive abundance.
We walked on, just as everyone else in Times Square, happy to be there. Somehow it seems easy to put on blinders, as everyone else does. We make ourselves feel better pretending it doesn’t exist. Speaking to a woman a couple days later, she shared ‘many of the homeless are that way because of mental issues'. Certainly mental issues contribute to the homeless population, as well as many other things.
Again, I dare say no one has expectations of becoming a homeless person when they come into this world. Somewhere along the way something had to have happened to this Hurt Man Down. Did we as a population keep our blinders on because it was easier. Since everyone else was doing it, did we look the other way? Did we wrap ourselves in our own world not caring about the needs of others?
I’ve been involved with an organization that rehabilitates people affected by human trafficking. In a class I once taught, a young girl told me she’d eaten out of trash can. Hurting people are sometimes the ones sitting next to us. Sometimes they are our cousins, our nephews, our brothers, maybe our parents, or maybe even ourself. I’ve experienced hurt so deep that being curled up in the fetal position on the bathroom floor was where I found comfort. The man on the cold, dirty sidewalk in Times Square obviously had hurts I knew nothing about. He seemed numb from years of hurt. There were people that supported me through my hurt. I wonder if this Hurt Man Down had anyone, or if he had to face his hurt alone?
Solving Homelessness is certainly a daunting task. The number of homeless people in New York City was too many to count. There was no way I could just turn my head, when faced with the homelessness. I had to do something, and I did. I’ll not say what I did. It wasn’t enough to move anyone out of homelessness. I only made a small difference to a small few, in the vast sea of Hurting Men Down. New York Cities Homeless population is but a tip of the ice berg of Hurting Men Down. Look around us. Look deep into the eyes of people you come into contact with. Hurts come wrapped in a variety of packages. Some hurts can be seen physically. Some hurts require professional intervention. Some can only be seen when someone feels safe enough to share their heart. Some hurts of the heart will reveal themselves through outward behavior.
The gigantic task surrounding us, of Hurting Men Down, comes back to us, you and I. The very small number of people reading this can make a difference in the lives of Hurting Men Down. I’d like to give you the first step in making a difference. It’s the only step I’ll give. After the first step, it will be you who determines on your own what step number 2 will be. The first step is crucial. I’ll give it to you. I’ll spell it out for you.
C - A - R - E
Care. Care for the Hurt Man Down.
Matthew 25:35-40
'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty, and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of min, you did for me.'
