My Commute by David

I have asked David to be my guest blogger, because he is so eloquent and continually points out the most profound or funny or interesting things. So, here are some of his thoughts that I get to hear often, but I wanted to share with you (with his permission, of course). I hope this will be the first of many, as there are few things I love more than his unique insights and Godly passion. Enjoy.

The stench of human feces was too much for most to handle as the bystanders huddled away from the body that was curled up in the corner of the subway car.  Many got on with looks of disgust on their faces as the wretched smell made slammed into them when the doors slid opened.  Others upon realizing the source quickly exited the car looking for an open space on an adjacent car or choosing to wait for the next train.  Women covered their noses with scarves; men fought back the tears that the smell caused to well up.  Very few said anything, and nobody did anything.  This was not the time or place for people to get their hands dirty and no one would think of defiling themselves by getting involved with something (no longer someone as humanity had been stripped from him) so disgusting. 

This man had given up on life and soiled himself many times over as he lay hunched over on a seat next to his only possessions: a worn, stained suitcase with holes on the bottom and a plastic bag full of miscellanies.  He was asleep or at least pretending to be asleep so that he could avoid the downcast looks from the bystanders and hopefully escape the nightmare that had become his life.  Maybe at this point he didn't care any longer and certainly no one cared about him.  He wasn't going anywhere and he couldn't run from where he was.  No one wanted to help.  No one wanted to be there.  Especially him.  This is not how life is intended to be.

How does one show the love of Christ to this man?  The world of man responded by turning their backs and maintaining their indifference such that their daily paths would not be altered, their clothing not soiled, their lives uninterrupted.  We live lives of indifference to the pain and suffering around us such that our expectations, schedules and comforts will not be affected. 

Ones thoughts race through the causal events that brings someone to this point?  How did he get to this point?  What ill-fated decisions did he make to find himself without hope?  Drugs?  Alcohol?  Gambling?  Or some other vice that we can pin it to?  We can make up reasons not to help him and avoid the situation.  We can speculate as to what brought him to this point and we can rationalize our inaction as the best action and allow our hearts to be further hardened such that we know longer recognize or respond to the stimulus around us. 

I road the 6-train for three stops from 77^th street to 68^th street to 59^th street  before exiting at 51^st street and taking a deep breath after passing through the doors.   By the time many of us exited the subway, we could no longer smell the man.  Our thoughts had returned to our daily lives and within a few steps of the subway car he would be completely forgotten or remembered only as a mockery to be shared with our friends/colleagues in disgust and as a badge of honor as to what we endured.  Oh the sadness that fills my heart to think that many will take this moment and convince themselves that they are the victim as they endured an uncomfortable commute and shed tears not out of compassion, but out of disgust.

What a sad world we live in when one can turn a destitute man on a subway into self-pity for oneself.  And judging from the reactions on that train, it happened over and over again… at 77^th street… at 68^th street… at 59^th street… at 51^st street… and I have to believe at each stop thereafter.  May the Lord awaken our hearts to the hurting world around us, but just as importantly may He force us into action and compel us away from indifference to deal with injustice without regard for our own comforts.  And may He forgive me for my own inaction in the face of such a need as I stood huddled with the crowd in avoidance of this man.