I'm too tired write about everything right now, I just want to curl up under the covers and sleep. But I do need to share one event out of the many that just happened.
The following is a text from an Angel - one of my daughters best friends that I received just after dinner:
"My sister volunteers at a homeless soup kitchen in Austin. She mentioned India's situation, and several of the homeless people gave my sister a dollar each"
This happened at the "Holy Cross Lutheran Church" in Austin, Texas.
The moment I read this text on my cell phone, I went into the other room and shared it with my wife. But something unexpected happened to me, I began to weep. I tend to cry now and then but this caught me off guard and was confusing. Not because I was embarrassed but at the moment, I couldn't process the intense emotions I was feeling. This was actually frightening.
Some time has passed and I think I have some idea of my unexpected reaction.
I've dismissed hundreds of homeless people in my life around the world without a thought as they've asked for money, work or food. This includes many times in Texas and even Austin.
I don't doubt that some of the homeless I've ignored, walked across the street to avoid or coldly said "no" to, had no business begging in the first place.
But how many of those homeless with their hand out who I shunned were living in fear and in need of help and had nowhere else to turn to?
Did they have children waiting nearby and were they disabled, cold or hungry?
And am I any different than the homeless in dire need as I'm reaching out for help this month for my daughters medical needs, quality of life or life itself?
So tonight I learn that homeless people in Austin, Texas are giving money to help my daughter. That is absolutely beautiful beyond words to me. And it's horrifying at the same time as I've turned my back on that very same group without a second thought.
Imagine if one of those homeless that gave their last dollar to India tonight, a cold night, is one of my fellow humans that I ignored, went out of my way to avoid, or coldly said "no" to.
Also, I can't help but think about India's last 5 trips to the emergency room when not a single family member took the time to show up, nor help in that time of crisis. Yet I blessed with homeless people who have never met my child who are making an effort to help.
Thank you.
