" It's a world of struggle, we do what we can...with what we have.."
As I stand here in my kitchen, chopping up the vegetables to make our homemade pasta sauce with chicken, I peek out the window every so often.
There, far across the neighborhood crosses a man...dressed in white, although his clothing is so beaten and stained. He is walking home, whatever that may be to him. Not looking back he walks hurriedly, I glance hidden behind my own secure home and behind the blinds of comfort.
His walk reflects that of a foreigner, walking home from work, so patiently, yet so humbly. Although I do not know him and had never taken a moment to glance out the window and look at those who cross out there...I get this sudden feeling that in his mind there is anxiety.
He hurries home, the storm is brewing up very quickly. Thunder strikes near by, lightning strikes, yet he walks home. So unsure about his reality, so invisible to the watchful eyes such as myself.
I admire the hard work that Hispanics/Latinos, and those who want to make a living for themselves go through on a day to day basis. I work and very hard, but God has blessed me so much as to say that my necessities are covered. I may not have all I want, but I am a healthy individual with a pure life of satisfaction. Sure everyone wants more, however, I must continue to work hard to achieve and make mt dreams come true.
This realization comes from admiring this individual making his way home. Who knows, he might not even live with his own family, he might not have a wife or kids waiting on him. He might be all alone in a world unknown to him and strange in every aspect of it's culture. But he is working, and is setting aside his pride.
With his head lowered, only taking quick steps he makes the turn and he disappears from view...my heart is touched by the emotions of pity, yet I know I should not feel that way, I feel bad for his struggles and how he must go through the hardships of discrimination, stress of not learning the English language, and being targeted by those who lurk around to rob of him and deprive him of his labored earnings.
This may seem so weird to the reader, it does not matter, perhaps this will make you aware of your sorroundings. We are so busy doing our own thing that we forget that there are others outside of our own bubble. We complain, I complain about my lack of luxury or others indulge too much in their own wealthy glass bubbles that never take a the time to acknowledge what happens all around them.
For some reason I seem to feel someone's pain trasnmitted through a simple body expression, in this case his walk. Perhaps I am too much of an observant and I give people the benefit of the doubt. Other times, I know I can feel through the distant look in people's eyes their vibe or calling for help.
Whatever his story may be, I do not know, but what I am sure of is that I am blessed and grateful to know that I do not have to struggle as much as others have to in order to survive in this cruel world.
So I leave you with this thought: would you be willing to lend a hand even if you did not know the person? Would you take that risk? It does not matter how you help, it is that you actually do it.
God bless all and may every heart find within them a desire to be better and respect every person regardless of ethnicity, culture, language, etc...
