Not By Bread Alone

I watched them put Mr. Monroe in an ambulance and James climbed in beside him. This is significant because Mr. Monroe and James are homeless and there is nobody else watching. Mr. Monroe walked the streets at the feet of buildings where studios are no less than $2,000/month and condominiums are no less than a million to buy. He died looking up at the scaffolding that was helping to build a better quality of life. I watched the red and blue lights flashing, holding my Subway sandwich, wishing that I had given him another one and maybe Mr. Monroe would have made it; but I knew it wasn't poverty that drove him here but instead the death of his wife -- he had lost his best friend. He couldn't go home because he hated to see her clothes. He lost his job in Long Island while trying to cope, and slowly he was losing his hope until one Monday night at 12:30am his cane gave way and he closed his eyes so that he could see her all the time. I ran to Duane Reade to get a card for James. I quickly scribbled peace-filled scripture and sprinted back out into the street. The ambulance was gone and so were James and Mr. Monroe. This card is in my pocket and will be there until I can deliver it. 



On November 22, 2008, 150 students from Columbia, NYU, Baruch, Stuyvescent and more, all involved in the New York City Urban Project, gathered to bring kindness to the darkest corners of Manhattan -- the nooks at Port Authority, the benches at Grand Central, passages at 168th, chairs at Union square and all avenues and cross-streets in between. Not only to bring more than 500 meals but also food for the spirit. Jesus said in Luke 4, "Man shall not live by bread alone," and it is true that we are in need of so much more than a good appetizer and an entree. Humanity longs to be noticed and known to be significant and it's a reality that we are known by our Creator but true joy exists in relationship -- friends, family, romantic. 



We may not drop a dollar in James' cup on 93rd or give a quarter to Thelma looking up at the board at the Long Island Railroad with no train to catch; but the least that we can do is notice them so that they don't die alone. A "hello" or a bagel can go a long way with the Lazarus that is sitting at all of our gates. The question is not our a lack of opportunity but our willingness to take it and reinforce the humanity of those who need to have their dreams freed again.