Lessons can be learned in Capitol's alleyways

That's a site I stumbled onto while cleaning out an alleyway in Washington. As I swept up, I saw the discarded boxes and thought how I would pick them up last. Then, I began to realize that someone lived here. Close by, there was the "bathroom." The smell was not pleasant, but my thoughts went out to the person who lived here.

Unfortunately, this continues to be the way of life for many of the homeless in our society. Afraid to go to shelters, they would rather sleep in the streets than lose the meager possessions they have. Many of these people once had good jobs but have hit hard times. They try to make it on their own. Changing their situation or seeing a future are not easy.

However, the time I spent in Washington is not one of pity, but of learning. I learned lessons taught by the staff and homeless in Washington. Working in the dining room one day at So Others Might Eat, for example, I saw a woman with sandals but no stockings. Everyone kept asking her where her socks were. She said she just didn't put them on yet. When it became obvious she didn't have any, another woman gave her an extra pair of socks she had. From what little people have, they are willing to share with others.

The importance of family and friends became very apparent to me throughout my week in D.C. Every day, one of the workers would be so happy when we arrived. He always called us his "family." As the week progressed, we learned more about his life. Bill started working at SOME within the past year. Before, he was homeless and slept in a doorway, often drunk. He remembered a security guard who would always watch over him.

Bill started going to SOME for food and decided to clean up his act. He started volunteering and joined rehab programs. Then they offered him a job. He also got his own apartment, with help from SOME.

One day, Bill decided to go back to the spot where he used to sleep and looked at the security guard's name. It was John; it was his father. All that time his father had been watching him, neither of them knew. This taught me to value the time I have with my family, because too many people don't have family they can turn to.

One day, a volunteer was talking with a man at SOME. The man said he had forgotten to put on one of his socks that day. No one was around to hear this conversation. However, a few minutes later, a woman walked by and placed a pair of socks in the man's hands and kept walking.

The man said, "Angels come into our lives everyday and today that was my angel." Every person I met in Washington was my angel. One day, I hope to be theirs.

(03-30-00) [[In-content Ad]]