The other day on the Drag.
At the University of Texas there is a strip of Gualdalupe Blvd called "THE DRAG". This is a very heavily populated street when comes to the homeless. It is a congregation for young lost souls. I pass them every day. I think, "I should do something...What would Jesus do?" I pass right through the ally, and don't really think twice. Why do I do this? What would he really have done? Now, I'm not one of those UT students that has had a candy coated life. Not to say that I have necessarily struggled, but my mommy and daddy don't pay for my tuition. I have to live at home, an hour commute, and essentially work two jobs. I am a waitress at a small restaurant, and I am medic in the Texas Army National Guard. I get some of my tuition paid in grants and the rest I work hard for. That being said, I have plenty in comparison to my fellow human beings laying on the cold sidewalk, hoping I won't finish my lunch. Maybe I'll give them my leftovers.
So one day, I had a couple hours between my classes. I was walking to my car thinking, "God, what am going to for the next few hours. This is going to be a boring day." Then God said, "Well, You know how you always think that you should do something for those hungry people waiting for you? I have prepared this day for you. Take someone out to lunch."
BAM! Just like that. "O.K. God. I'm there." So go invite to young men to lunch with me. My voice quivered as I said, "uh...um....my name is Kristen and um...I'd like to take two of you to lunch. Would any of you like to go with me?" They deliberated and nominated two of the group to take me up on my offer.
I was feeling pretty good about myself by this time. Not to mention how greatful the were. "Thank You sooooo much." "This is the best day ever." "I never thought this would happen." We talked about nothings and somethings. Where are you from? How did you get to Austin? Then What do you think about? and how often do you eat? I felt less and less pleased with my "altruism". I was very surprised to find them both younger than me! It cut me very deep. People in the restaurant stared and smiled at the thought that someone could do this. They knew what I had done, and they knew that they could not. They looked happy that some person had taken on the responsibility that just may have been theirs also. The responsibility to do good to others no matter where they are or why.
Then the food arrived. A more emotional moment than I could have anticipated. I fought back tears as I watched the to starving young men, with no money in their pockets, and no means to speak of split their meals in half to take back to their starving friends. They must have been so hungry, and yet decidedly, without hesitation, without discussion, they gave out of what they were given. Even worse, they didn't eat until they were full and take the leftover to the others. They gave of their first fruits.
Am I saving them? Are they saving me? Who is teaching who? I think that I have missed something along the way. How did they attain this that I have battled? Am I that selfish? The questions flew around like a swarm of bees in my mind. One thing I knew for sure; I was definitely going to do this again.
So one day, I had a couple hours between my classes. I was walking to my car thinking, "God, what am going to for the next few hours. This is going to be a boring day." Then God said, "Well, You know how you always think that you should do something for those hungry people waiting for you? I have prepared this day for you. Take someone out to lunch."
BAM! Just like that. "O.K. God. I'm there." So go invite to young men to lunch with me. My voice quivered as I said, "uh...um....my name is Kristen and um...I'd like to take two of you to lunch. Would any of you like to go with me?" They deliberated and nominated two of the group to take me up on my offer.
I was feeling pretty good about myself by this time. Not to mention how greatful the were. "Thank You sooooo much." "This is the best day ever." "I never thought this would happen." We talked about nothings and somethings. Where are you from? How did you get to Austin? Then What do you think about? and how often do you eat? I felt less and less pleased with my "altruism". I was very surprised to find them both younger than me! It cut me very deep. People in the restaurant stared and smiled at the thought that someone could do this. They knew what I had done, and they knew that they could not. They looked happy that some person had taken on the responsibility that just may have been theirs also. The responsibility to do good to others no matter where they are or why.
Then the food arrived. A more emotional moment than I could have anticipated. I fought back tears as I watched the to starving young men, with no money in their pockets, and no means to speak of split their meals in half to take back to their starving friends. They must have been so hungry, and yet decidedly, without hesitation, without discussion, they gave out of what they were given. Even worse, they didn't eat until they were full and take the leftover to the others. They gave of their first fruits.
Am I saving them? Are they saving me? Who is teaching who? I think that I have missed something along the way. How did they attain this that I have battled? Am I that selfish? The questions flew around like a swarm of bees in my mind. One thing I knew for sure; I was definitely going to do this again.
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