The following is a Lenten reflection written by Caitlin Kerwin, one of this year's South House Volunteers.
As I
walked home from work, I noticed a man sitting on the curb. I honestly don’t
know if I would have paid him any attention if he didn’t shout “I’m hungry,
ma’am!” Having lived in Chicago for a few months at this point I wasn't surprised by this man, but he did startle me a bit. I responded to him quickly saying “Sorry, Lakeview Pantry is right down the road.” This did not seem to
satisfy him as he said “I’m from Birmingham, Alabama and I don’t have I.D.” Now,
this really would not have prevented him from receiving food, but at the time I
was not very informed. I still did not know how to help, so I responded with a
“Sorry” and kept walking down the street. God has a funny way of pulling at our
heart strings, so as I stopped at the corner to wait for the ‘walk’ sign I
could not help but feel a sense of urgency to think of something that might
help this man. I felt somehow connected to him as if it were my responsibility
to do something about his hunger. I’m not one to give money to people on the
street, but I am one that values food. As many of you may know, I like to eat. I
looked back at the man sitting on the curb in front of Subway and
started walking toward him reluctantly. I asked him if he wanted a sandwich
from Subway and he responded “Yes… and can I have a coke too?” I thought why
not, I would want one too. The man was very appreciative of the meal
and I was on my way.
I saw
this man almost every day for the rest of my first year of Amate. At first I didn't know whether to say hi to him or just try to avoid eye contact for fear
of him asking for more help. Eventually I got over my pride a little and
started smiling at him every day that I walked past. We were connected in some
way.
It’s
hard to remember my oneness with others and the world when I live in my own
bubble. I thought Amate would magically break this bubble and I would have a
brand new way of thinking. While Amate has definitely made me more aware of
this bubble, it is still a daily struggle to change my way of thinking and break
the bubble I have a tendency to live in. We have a responsibility to one
another, from the begging man sitting on the road to the housemate sitting on
the couch. It is our job as people to help each other carry the many crosses we
have in our lives and to realize we are also carrying the same cross.
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