That Feeling of Helplessness

Today just started out as any other March day in Boston. Bitterly cold. However, I was inside the warm, welcoming confines of the North Station subway stop so at least I wasn't freezing to death. As I waited for the train to arrive to take me closer to work (I was REALLY early), this seemingly ordinary man stood on the edge of the platform and began shouting.

"Does anyone know how to get to the Boston DMV, and how to help me get a photo ID?!," he exclaimed. "I need it in order to get a house."

Now, I have no idea where the Boston DMV is, but there were about 70-80 or so people waiting with me so chances are someone knew...

Silence.

For about 5 seconds no one said a word, yet we all stared at that man...

"Please help me," He pleaded. "I have no money or house. I was a druggie for so long, lived on the streets and just found out a couple weeks ago that I'm HIV positive... I just need some help..." His face filled with tears as he whimpered, "I'm not trying to steal from you, but any help will do..."

My head was spinning. What was I to do? I was always leery about giving money to strangers, especially homeless druggies, but he seemed so different... There was no façade. Just a man with absolutely nothing.

In the middle of my inward battle, and just a few seconds after this man finished pleading with this crowd... the train arrived, and we all boarded and left...

I wish this story had a better ending. Frankly, as I type this so many ideas flood my mind of what I could have done differently, or the help that I could have offered. This grown man, due to desperation, begged for some help. Any help. And we... and I just left him there...

Every couple minutes I find myself praying for this guy. I can't go back now since I have work in a little bit... and that's eating at me.

For such a cultured and rich city, Boston has a lot of people struggling to pay rent, find their next meal, have a warm place to stay. God brought that right to my face this morning. They need to be loved on just as much as, if not more than, the affluent that I had aspired to reach.

I pray that this man finds the help he needs, but more importantly I pray that through God's power I can find a way to help all the hurting here. His church needs to reach Boston in a huge way, and as a part of His church, I need to reach Boston in a huge way.

So could you pray for me on this journey?

Sito

Here's some good music to reflect with.

A Short Trip to Boston

So as most of you know, yesterday was nice and warm. Well it was 50 degrees, but that counts as beautiful in a place where the four seasons are Winter, June, July and August. Anyways, my parents and I decided it'd be a great day to go out and do something. So we went to Boston for a couple hours to enjoy great Irish Food and visit Body World's Vital located in Faneuil Hall. So here are a few pictures of the day.



 

 

And as always: Enjoy some good music.

Family

“Welcome to the Red Sox Family!”

 

I couldn’t contain my smile. The owner of my favorite team growing up. The man that headed up saving Fenway Park, oversaw 3 World Series Championships in 10 years and who also invented the position I was hired for just welcomed me (and 89 others) into the Red Sox Family. Even though this was less than 5 minutes into the eventual 4 and a half hour night if they had ended right there I would have been content.

Now I can’t divulge into much of what was said or done last night for obvious reasons, but I can tell you one thing: the more I find out about my job the more I can say with confidence that I finally found a job that fits me. I can guarantee the people sitting around me thought I was crazy as I smiled the whole time they talked about customer service, payroll etc. I was like a kid in a candy store! And that was before I got a special mini-tour with my department of the Red Sox Hall of Fame and Red Sox trophy case. Don’t even get me started on that!

So anyways I just wanted to update you guys on a little bit of what happened last night. I go back next week, and hopefully the Green Line is fixed by then. My mom surprised me yesterday by parking outside of Fenway to pick me up since she didn’t want me to walk too far looking for another subway line to hop on after the Green went down. She’s awesome like that. So yeah, I’ll do my best to let you guys know what’s going on! Or…. You can up here for yourself one weekend and find out in person. Just saying.

 

Since you’re here enjoy some good music. Because Boston

Change

Looking out this window I no longer see the Blue Ridge Mountains. That’s been replaced with cluttered streets full of close-together homes and duplexes. There aren’t Chic-fil-a’s, Hardee’s or Bojangles that dot every corner. Instead we have Dunkin Donuts and a ton of great places for Chinese food. “Y’all” has been exchanged for words missing the letter R, while freezing cold and snow has made way for freezing cold and snow. As my dad put it, I’ve spent the past six years “vacationing” in Massachusetts. Now it’s time for me to finally move back.

 

                There was something ironic about Spring Break being the time I left Lynchburg. A lot of my friends left the city before I did. That truthfully made saying “Goodbye” a lot easier, and it allowed me more time for packing, which I’m pretty slow at doing anyways. It’s little things like this that make me think I’ve made the right choice in coming back to Lowell. Even though my new job/life will be more exciting and fast-paced. More people-oriented and less Third-Shift Janitorial. I can’t help but feel that I left a big part of my heart in Lynchburg. That will change in time, I hope.

                It’s lightly snowing outside, and as I eat Crab Rangoon and Pork Fried Rice for breakfast (judge away) I can’t help but think of 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV):

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 

The only reason I am here today is because of grace. If you could only meet and hear the other finalists you would understand. I had no business being in the same room with most of them for anything other than say “People who currently exist.” It wasn’t like I was intimidated by them, but I just felt like in the grand scheme of things those people were more likely to have this special opportunity than say a once-homeless Puerto Rican  janitor from Lowell. God saw things differently though, and tonight I will be going into orientation for my new job.

 

                Can I tell you something? As bizarre as all this may seem. My past few years make sense now. All the closed doors. All the late-night interventions. The still small voice telling me to not give up. I finally know why… God has brought me a long way. Back to the city and people I love, and He’s told me: “Don’t worry, just be willing.” So I will be, and I am. What will this next chapter look like? Absolutely no idea. But that’s what it was like in my last chapter too, and look how that turned out.

Enjoy some beautiful music