Monroe Park is located in the heart of VCU. I don't really know too much about the park, but I do know it's a spot where homeless people gather. I've been there on multiple occasions with the youth group and with my Sunday School class to take bagged lunches to people hanging out in the park.
Yesterday Monroe Park was filled with 30,000 runners, bands, vendors, and spectators for the Monument Avenue 10k. 
I was in the middle of the festivities, and I am ashamed to admit I didn't even think about the people who normally inhabit the park. At least not until I saw Ron. Ron is a security guard for VCU who works in the park. I have talked to him plenty of times on past visits. The minute I saw him my heart burned in my chest. Where were all those homeless people who had been run out of their gathering place for the day's race events?
Today my Sunday School class visited Monroe Park to feed the homeless. What a different scene from yesterday! All the events had been packed up and hauled away.
In place of people waiting in line to get their race medals, stood hungry people desperately hoping to get a bite to eat.
Now comes the "shame on me" part. When I am doing something, I put myself 100% into the job. I work hard and try to do the right thing. None of this is bad, but I often get so focused on the task, I don't pay attention to my surroundings. Like yesterday for example, when I went to Monroe Park to run. My focus was on the race, not the homeless. On the way back to the car, I passed a few people digging through trashcans, and it never dawned on me to give them the unopened sports drink or granola bar I was holding in my hand. I just kept walking. I was in a rush to get to the car because I was sweaty from running and it was very windy and cold. Shame on me.
It is important to take care of our own needs, but it's also important to look out for the needs of others. Matthew 25:40 says, "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" Today I planned to attend to "the least of these." I even put it on my calendar as "Monroe Park Homeless Ministy." I don't want to be a person who only helps others when I schedule it ahead of time. I am thankful my God forgives me when I mess up. I am thankful He gives me another chance to get it right, because after all, tomorrow is a new day!
No comments:
Post a Comment