by BB Curtis

I look upon this season that is supposed to be a time of great joy for most of the world’s major religions and for many others who say they have no religion at all with great sadness. We’ve seen many scenes of devastation during this past year – more so than most years in recent history. There are so many in need, so many who’ve lost everything, so many who didn’t have all that much anyway; but what they did have is now gone. In every community, there are those who are homeless or on the brink of it; those who live in abuse; those who can see no way out of a dark, deep hole.

I had to go to an area of town where many city, county, and state offices are.  It is in one of the less attractive areas of the city. There was no place to park near the building, so I reluctantly parked in a lot down about three blocks from my destination. Although it was mid-day, the people roaming the streets there did not give me a reason to feel comfortable. I went inside the records office as fast as I could, got the report I needed, and left quickly – all I wanted to do was get in my car (if it was still there in one piece) and go home as fast as I could get there.

The building I was in is next to the bus station. Sitting outside on a bench was a woman. It was clear that all she had was in the backpack sitting at her feet. The sun was behind her, so I couldn’t see her very well. As I’d walked out of the building, I’d noticed that she’d bent her head down a bit, as if in shame. I walked past her but had to stop and turn toward her. I don’t know what made me do that. All I really wanted to do was get out of there. I took a step toward her, and she looked up at me, startled. She could have been anywhere from 18 to 30. She had a beautiful, if a bit haggard, face with one black eye and a split, swollen lip. She looked at the ground again. It was at this time that I realized that the hood of her sweatshirt (hardly warm enough for the weather) was pulled too far forward over her face. She was hiding, hiding her beautiful face because someone had punched her more than once. I don’t think it would be fair to her to discuss the conversation that we had or the outcome of the encounter. Suffice it to say, I forgot completely about my own discomfort at being in questionable surroundings as we spoke for a few minutes. Just being next to her filled me with an immense sense of loss and fear. One other thing – she never asked me for anything although she seemed to relax a bit upon hearing a few kind words and a loving tone.

This lovely, well-spoken young woman’s situation is quickly becoming the rule instead of the exception. As our economy declines, as our moral fiber disintegrates, as the self-absorbed become more prominent in our society, as we care less and less in greater and greater numbers, the quantity of those who deserve better and get nothing or worse increases.

Yep, life can deal out some hard knocks. We should learn and grow from them. We’ve all heard that it builds character. But what if it breaks you? What if your perspective is that there is nothing left and nowhere to turn? What if it were you out on the street with nothing but a backpack that wasn’t even full? What if you put your trust in someone who talked you into moving to a new community and then beat the hell out of you and threw you out with nothing? What would you do? Where would you go? How would you get there? What is the worst thing that you can think of that could happen to you? What would you do? Where would you go? How would you get there?

If you are able, please do what you comfortably can to make a difference. If your heart has been touched, please don’t let it stop here. Please don’t sign off your computer, shaking your head at the sadness, maybe shed a tear or two, and then forget and go back to your busy life. Find room in your heart to take some sort of action. Donate money; unwrapped toys; old clothes, coats, and blankets. Put some loose change in the Salvation Army bucket outside the grocery store. While there are still more of us who have something than there are those who have nothing, please remember the truth of this season and help someone. If you found your way to this website, you can surely find a worthy charity online. You don’t have to give ‘til it hurts, just ‘til it helps. I guess I’m asking that you show your good character and do something for someone who can do absolutely nothing for you.

Live well,
Bobbi

© Bobbi Curtis 2015, All Rights Reserved