(Something I wrote in August of 2008--quick content so my blog is not boring right off the start! :) )
I am moved upon to write about four
experiences I’ve had which to me seem somehow linked. I think they say something about the state of
humanity and something else about our divine tendency and desire to "mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort." I am from a small town. When one from a
small town walks around cities that are big and in bloom with chaos and beauty,
light and dark, madness and genius, humanity and inhumanity on every corner one is able to
notice--can't help but notice--things which cause them to perk their ears and listen
through the sound of commotion to these quiet personal moments played out in
front of a distracted audience. In a
small town one gets used to noticing. At
the time these events were witnessed, I knew nothing of Siddhartha Gautama—how
at a young age he left the protected paradise of his wealthy home and explored
the world outside his confines. The
types of suffering he witnessed shocked and moved him so much he began a quest
to discover the root and cure of human suffering, which search ended in 49 days
of meditation beneath a pipal tree, and the birth of a new world religion.
The first event occurred in New York—Times
Square. I was 16 and walking through the
crowded streets at night, looking up at the flashing words and pictures the
size of buildings and trying to take in the rushed pace, close quarters, and
the warm, damp smell of the city, keeping my mom close to avoid
separation. We passed Spongebob—someone
on the sidewalk was wearing a huge Spongebob costume (big square yellow head
with a dopey smile) and there were a few kids having their picture taken with
him. As we passed by I jokingly said,
“Mom, we should take our picture with Spongebob.” Not accustomed to street vendors, I noticed
the collection plate nearby and said, “Hah! Never mind, I don’t want to pay for it.” We explored some of the downtown shops and
headed back to the apartment where we were staying for our vacation. As we passed back by Spongebob’s sidewalk
domain, I saw something that made me deeply regret what I had said
earlier. “Spongebob” removed his yellow,
wide-grinning slap-happy head and I saw an Arabic woman in tears who went over
to the cement steps and embraced her husband who held her, and then sat with
her on the steps as they cried. As we
walked away tears were falling down my face and I had a hard time explaining to
my mom.
The next
three episodes took place in Anchorage,
Alaska and in one day. My friend Misty and I were staying at a
Hilton for an Association of Student Governments conference—we were 17. In the time we had off, we decided to strike
out in our scarves and hoods to explore the city in the cold winter air. We were meandering down a center street, with
high gleaming office buildings rising up on either side. As we passed one building, the doors were
pushed open and we looked ahead of us to see a slender, dark-haired young man
in a business suit come flying down the steps.
His face was twisted in pain. He
stopped at the bottom of the steps and yelled—a cry from deep inside like a
wild wounded man as he crushed a manila folder in his hand, looking up at the
black windows. He crumpled down to a
squatting position wringing the manila folder and crying. I wondered what dream of his had just
ended. We looked at each other unsure
what to say having witnessed this personal moment of pain. One of us made a joke like, “Not a good day
for that guy,” and we continued on our way.
A few
streets over, another scene made us stop our conversation and pause to contemplate
what was before us. A white picket fence
and a frosted lawn separated us from a small shrine where the Virgin Mary stood
under an awning with outstretched arms.
A Hispanic man in uniform was kneeing on the cement walkway leading up
to her, his hands clasped in front of him and his lips moving as he uttered a
plea. His custodian’s cart was parked
inside the fence—the bottles of Windex and toilet bowl cleaner gathering frost.
Moved and a
little emotionally jarred, we walked only another block when a bearded man
approached us. He was obviously mentally
impaired and we tried to make friendly conversation although we were getting
nervous. He asked us, from close proximity,
if we wanted to go to the “radio store.”
He said it was really close, just around the corner. We said we were headed back and needed to be
on our way, but he persisted. Finally,
Misty said “Let’s go,” and grabbed my arm as we ran across to the other side of
the street. The bearded, wobbling man
kept on his course as we walked down opposite sides of the road and I could see
his breath in the air as he talked to no one.
I wasn’t sure what to make of these
things then, as I am not sure now.
Perhaps I need to meditate for 49 days beneath a tree. What did the Arabic woman in the Spongebob
costume, the wailing young business man, the Hispanic custodian praying on the
frozen ground, and the mentally-ill man in need of a friend have in
common? Humanity, and suffering
therein. They shared pain—pain which no
one else seemed to notice or care about, let alone, attempt to alleviate. I noticed—yet did not know how to stretch my
humanity out to them in those moments.
The question rings on in my mind, what could I have done? For those suffering now, What
can I do?
Michaela, I read this 5 years after you wrote it. I have read a number of more recent things you have written. I am flabbergasted. (Such a poor word to describe the serious and sincere reaction you raise in me.) I have known from the first day I met you that you are special, but to find such maturity and wisdom, wit and emotive ability in a woman so young is not only startling but a little scary.
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