I work very close to Pioneer Park in Salt Lakr City, Utah. Many people are skeptical to walk around this park because it is surrounded by homeless people. There are several homeless folks in the area. Many of these people, you can find there at this park every day.
I walk around the park on my two breaks. I enjoy the out doors and I am able to stretch my legs for a few minutes. I am one of the lucky few that have a desk job. Walking prevents my legs from cramping.
Recently, I met a homeless man who lives in the park. My friends and I call him "Texas" because for weeks now, he has been trying to get to a family reunion in Texas. He has four names, but I cannot remember them. I think his first name is Roy.
I don't know how Roy became a member of the homeless society. I've never asked him. I do know he was in Vietnam. He says what happened in Vietnam is between him and The Lord. He doesn't like to talk about it.
Everytime my friends and I walk past Texas and his friends on the East side of the park, he yells, "Did you bring me any pork chops?!" We laugh and tell him not today. On Friday, September 28th 2012, I agreed to bring him pork chops when I came in to work on Monday.
I decided Sunday would be a good day for my family to eat pork chops for dinner. Harmons, the local grocery store, has some on sale five packages for $20.00. I bought five packages, which have three pork chops each. I have a family of five.
Today, Monday October 1 2012, I took the remaining pork chops, there were six, with me to work. I took along a loaf of homemade bread, homemade raspberry jalepeno jam, and a piece of homemade apple pie. I was so excited to run into my friend on my first break this morning. I searched for him, but he wasn't there.
I held onto the food I had brought and when it was time for our next break, Jackie and I made the rounds around the park again. I had the plastic Wal-Mart sack in hand full of food. I hoped to see my friend this afternoon. I had even joked that if I didn't see him today, I was going to eat his pie!
Sure enough, on the east side of the park, there was my friend. He said hello to us as we came walking up towards him and his friends. I asked him what he was doing, sitting there with a torn baggy next to him. As I looked down at the bag, I saw old meat covered in white fuzz. Texas was putting catsup all over it.
"You can't eat that!" I blurted. "That will kill you. It's got mold all over it."
"It does?" he asked, still squeezing the catsup package.
"Here, eat this instead. I brought you pork chops."
"You did", he interupted. "I was just messin' with ya'all".
I continued, "I also made you a loaf of homemade bread, homemade jam, and brought you a slice of homemade apple pie".
Holding the loaf of white bread in his hands he says, "you made this yourself?"
"I sure did. And I brought it for you."
Jackie and I walked away at this point and let him eat his lunch.
"Thank you! I'll walk with you around the park tomorrow!" he yells. "Don't forget, Thursday, I'm leaving for Texas".
"That's right, Thursday. I remember" I said as I waived goodbye.
I cannot believe he was going to eat meat covered in white fuzz. Seeing that made me so sick to my stomach. Too many people turn a blind eye to te needs of other people. Too many people are afraid to help those in need because they want to know they "whys" of it all or "what are you going to do with it?"
I help those I can help because of who I am. I choose to help those in need. I choose to be a friend to all of those around me. I am no better than Roy. I am no better than anyone on this earth. We all have our own struggles, our own demons, our own trials, our own adversities. Sometimes yours may be harder than mine; other times my trials may be harder than yours. How can I appreciate my own trials if I don't help you get through yours?
I am very thankful for the learning experiences I have had. I am also very thankful for the adversities I have over come. I know I have been blessed with the ability to help others. I also know I have been blessed with friendships from diverse communities. I believe these friendships keep me open-minded and open-hearted towards other people.
April
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