I found this through athenae at First-Draft, and am posting it without comment, as nothing I can say would add anything to it.
Chicago Sun Times
Some gaze at viaduct Virgin but forget concrete world
*
It appears as if someone has recently scrubbed the walls around the supposed image of the Virgin Mary. She is flanked by Christian-themed flags and signs and posters. At her “feet” are dozens of flickering candles and several bouquets of flowers.
The impromptu shrine is larger than the one that appeared near the entrance to Holy Name Cathedral in the days following the death of John Paul II. Yet those two shrines combined would be about 1/50th the size of the flower-candle-card mountain that grew outside the British Embassy on Michigan Avenue after Princess Diana’s death.
I stop taking digital photos and observing the crowd for a few moments, and I focus on the image itself. Sure, it sorta-kinda looks like the Virgin Mary. At any given moment, there are about 100 million stains forming on walls and on shower floors and in refrigerators. Occasionally you’ll get one that looks like Jesus or the Virgin Mary; just as often, you’ll get one that looks like Cedric the Entertainer or Kelly Clarkson.
Just a few steps west of the holy image, leaning against a streetlight pole on Fullerton, there is a homeless man, holding up a small cardboard sign that says:
HELP
I’M HUNGRY
You’d chastise a screenwriter for such easy symbolism, but there the man sits, squinting against the sun and holding up his sign.
In clusters of two and three and four, the faithful who are flocking to and from the image of the Virgin Mary — they walk right past the homeless man. They walk right past him, as if he’s not even there.
doling out the tough love, I guess. I think the part about tough love was in the unpublished sequel to the New Testament.
Yes, sadly. Of course it’s not only these particular people… although they are perfect example.
On a non-religious note, it sort of reminds me of people who spend hours of time and scads of money getting their kids the best of this or that, so that they can get into a good college… but don’t spend time with their kids.
People so busy looking at the far off, nebulous goals that they miss what’s right in front of their faces.
It seems it is always so.
I am one of those who gives what I have when I have something. . .and if there is someone else with me, I am always disturbed by the most common comments. . .”Don’t give him/her money! he/her will just go buy booze or drugs.” It saddens me. And I always tell them that the gift is from my heart, but it is a gift none the less and what anyone does with a gift after it is given is none of my or anyone’s business.
Have we always been so self serving and selfish? It seems to me we have become much more so over the years.
Yes, that saddens me too. It’s almost become a Bad Thing to give money or help to people, society wise…
I think that is probably due to not only “compassion fatique” but an unconscious absorbing of the mantra that people in dire straits are there because they want to be, or even more; they deserve to be.
As a recovering homeless drug addicted derelict, I can tell you that many a day was indeed spent shilling for money for my habit. Yet there were many times that I truly was hungry, hungry for a kind word, a soft look of compassion, hungry for a glimmer of hope that I was still a human being to others. I lived in a cardboard box in a doorway in downtown San Diego for more than 18 months, shriveling away as a human being and seeing that others only saw a corpse who failed to die on time. I can say that, that was over 17 yrs ago and through the Grace of the Great Spirit I have a life worth living. I donate regularly to St Vincent de Paul’s homeless programs, the Salvation Army homeless programs and offer my time and energy in helping other homeless people find a solution to their problem. Way to many families are homeless through no fault of their own, and this bankruptcy bill will put a whole lot more on the streets. If you have never been homeless, you can never feel the helplessness, the hopelessness, the fear that this could be your last day on earth because you are all alone. I was fortunate, the Great Spirit kicked me in the head, I had a stroke at age 33 and never looked back. I made a decision to change the way I lived my life, I was offered not a 2nd chance, but a fifth chance. I had overdosed at least that many times. I love my life, my children and wife. I find glory in waking up each day knowing that I am graced, that this life I live today gives me all the joy I could ever hope to find and I share that joy with my family and others who cross my path. Thank you all for being open, honest and willing to share your life’s journey with me, it is indeed a honor to be a part of your life today.
and I am so honored by your life and your willingness to share it with us. It is no mistake that you are here doing just that.
Just one liberal’s journey through life and have been blessed so far in this wonderful journey. Thank you for your kindness.
Kindness is the easiest thing when it is seen so brilliantly in the eyes of you, my brother.
Great Spirit continue to walk with his hand on your shoulder. We are all ONE.
this is ridiculous! Do you think Jesus would actually stop to help a poor, homeless…oh wait…
Is it ridiculous to think that so many people who profess that jesus is their personal saviour have turned their backs on so many people who need their help. Starting from the top down, the Prez, GW the talking head, to so called evangelical TV evangelists who profess that god talks to them every day. I can only hope that the voices they hear don’t start telling them they are the chosen few. We could really be in trouble then. I digress again. I hope that the followers, the true followers of the Christ, take back their religion for the Pharasee’s and cast them from the temple.
ahhh..the highway to hell, is paved with good intentions ; )
makes me kinda hungry… for a grilled-cheese sandwich.
I guess that real Christians are fully nourished by all that compassion.
Well, while this article does involve Christians, who are definitely missing an opportunity to live their principles, I do think it sort of brings up a larger societal and personal point.
I’m would hope that people streaming to see John Lennon or someone on a wall (does he ever appear? Maybe he’s more into being on potato chips) would react differently than these people did, and actually see the hungry person… but there are no guarantees of that.
As it is said: “None are so blind as those who will not see.” It seems to be what exactly has taken our country into the horrendous mess we currently are in. Blocking out truth and opinions that differ in any way from our own. Very hard lessons to learn, but we can learn them if we will.
Yes we can learn the lessons and, I’m hopeful, change the culture. It’s been done before, to where now so much emphasis is put on things and what you can accumulate. And so many seem afraid to give even out of their abundance, as if even one little straw will break their bank/camel’s back.
Very odd. But still, there are also still plenty of people who will go the extra mile with you, and even give you the shirts off their backs, so there is hope ;).
Come to think of it, maybe someone should start a Topless Charitable/Sustainable movement. There are any number of meanings to put on the word ‘topless’, but hopefully many would put the most salacious meaning on it, and give lots 🙂
probably just the second coming of Jesus. <snark>