Essay on the state of the homeless people during the Holidays
Christmas carols waft through the crisp Manhattan
air as the steady ringing of the bells of Salvation Army Santa sets the pace for
shoppers hustling from store to store. The magnificent Rockefeller Center
Christmas tree heralds the promise of Yuletide celebrations ushering in the
season of love and joy.
But for thousands
of homeless people in New York city, the season is a harbinger of struggle.
Huddled in alleyways, bus terminals, doorways and other temporary hovels,
attempting to ease the chill of winter, they find no joy.
Some keep their
faces to the ground, too hungry and lethargic to honor the Christ child's birth.
Others glance upward, perhaps searching for a special star to offer solace to a
life of misery, but more likely hoping for handouts--a dollar or two to stem the
ever-present gnawing of a tortured empty stomach. Years ago, it was a nickel,
but inflation has reached the street people as well. New York City with the
highest population in the country, also has one of the largest number of people
for whom Christmas is just another exercise in survival.
Perhaps it is the
fear of 'Except for the grace of God go I', mentality that keeps us from
recognizing them or addressing the biblical question, 'Am I my brother's
keeper?' Now that the holidays are upon us it's a good time to reconsider our
priorities. We live in a country of great contrasts; from the extremely wealthy
through the middle class to the struggling lower class. Not enough of us
consider the 'no' class, the people who have nothing; because acknowledging the
problem necessitates a resolution.
Still, the day
after Christmas there will be those who will ponder, like in the old Peggy Lee
song, 'Is that all there is?' Too often Christ is removed from Christmas and we
sense, but cannot name, the hollow feeling left after the frantic rush to make
one day memorable. The homeless, hunched around garbage can fires, or sleeping
over subway grates to catch the warmth of a passing train, do not have the
luxury of such contemplation.
As our world
grows smaller, the plight of the homeless becomes a global concern, bringing
crime, disease and poverty to our doors. No one appreciates a guilt trip during
the Christmas season, and no one wants visions of starving people interrupting
the Holiday feast, overflowing with homemade delicacies, cookies and candy canes
hanging from decorated trees. We work for what we have, ever harder in this
sluggish economy and we deserve the rewards of our labors. True. But in the
spirit of Christmas it is important to remember that over 2000 years ago, the
Christ child lay in a manure-filled stable in Bethlehem, on a straw mattress of
questionable cleanliness, wrapped in swaddling clothes that did not come from
Macy's.
Emphasis today
weighs heavily upon material gifts. Charge cards promote a gluttony of
expenditure that has little to do with the meaning of Christmas. The legendary
Little Drummer Boy had nothing but a song to offer the new-born babe. That gift
was cherished more then the gold, frankincense and myrrh brought by the wise men
from the East, because it was a gift of pure love.
This season let
us all think about how much we have, and how fortunate we are to be spending the
holidays with loved ones instead of a damp, freezing floor in Grand Central
Station. Above all, let us love one another. And if we can extend that love to
the homeless street people, the next holiday season may witness a practical
solution to our mutual shame. Love is a self-perpetuating emotion and all it
takes to activate it is to exchange it among ourselves.
Merry Christmas!
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Thanks for re-posting Sharla—an important message. I hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas! Blessings to you! ~ Peggy
ReplyDeleteIt is such an important message...an awakening that does not need go ignored. I thought Micki provided a very emotional essay!
DeleteThank you Sharla for posting Micki's incredible tribute to Christmas
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas
Great blog! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Yves, for visiting and especially leaving comments. Merry Christmas!
DeleteTHANK YOU SHARLA, that was a beautiful posting from Micki, and I'm anxious to get involved with what Rosemary is doing re: the Fleece Blankets. I just don't know how to sew, but I will help any other way I can.
ReplyDeleteMy thanks to you, Lori. Um-m-m? Don't know about the Fleece Blankets. Will have to contact Rosemary...I do sew!
DeleteGreat piece by my friend Micki and posted by another friend Sharla.
ReplyDeleteKen, thank you for visiting Awakenings and look forward to your stopping by again. Merry Christmas!
DeleteYou might say I'm lucky.
ReplyDeleteI know Micki personally,
and her journalistic style of writing NEVER ceases to amaze me.
Robin Leigh Morgan - debut author
"I Kissed a Ghost"
http://www.amazon.com/Kissed-Ghost-Robin-Leigh-Morgan/dp/1480030031
Micki definitely has a way about penning her words in just the right perspective. I always enjoy reading her stories most of which are so true to life.
DeleteMany thanks, Sharla for posting my Christmas story on your impressive blog. Now I know the full meaning of 'a picture is worth a thousand words', Your pictures enhanced this story tenfold. Your creative site is well worth all the awards you win for it. Merry Christmas to all.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are pleased, Micki. Sometimes it is really difficult in getting just the right pictures/video because I do not want to take away from the author's words but instead simply enhance the meaning of the message.
Delete"Is that all there is?" Thank you for sharing this important message.
ReplyDeleteI am reminded of story of a man many years ago who had this desire to go on a pilgrimage to Palestine. Who saved up the money till he eventually had enough. However, one night he heard a knock at the door and was told a young relative was very ill, he would not survive without expensive treatment that they could not afford, just the same amount that the man had saved.
After he handed over the money, knowing he would never be able to afford this pilgrimage again, he sat down and wrote a hymn that is still sung to this day. The hymn refers to the wise men and the shepherds, and then in the last verse he acknowledges he dose not have much to give, so what can he give. Answer he gave? "Give my heart?" We do not need to cross the world to know there are people who are needing to be loved and cared for every day.
Thanks for sharing.
Jon, what an overwhelmingly wonderful surprise for you to leave such warm comments. It is definitely all about 'heart'. There needs to be more persons willing to give just a little to help those who are struggling. That little adds up to truly a LOT!
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