TRUE SPEAK

A DAY TO GIVE THANKS AND BE THANKFUL FOR THE ABILITY TO GIVE

As a long time Bay Area resident, I love San Francisco.  It is home of the infamous Golden Gate Bridge, the best baseball team in the league (yes, slightly biased - Go, SF Giants!) and even the crookedest street on the planet.  As a matter of fact, San Francisco is one of the top tourist destinations in the world.  Why wouldn’t people want to visit…or even live here; especially given that, four out of the top 27 richest urban neighborhoods in America is in San Francisco with Pacific Heights topping the list in the area.  No one can deny or object that it is indeed one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  

But just roughly 2 miles away from one of the wealthiest places in the U.S., lies a dark side. From almost every corner of town, you will see no shortage of people suffering from poverty, destitution and drug addiction roaming the streets of Tenderloin.  The stench of urine that fills the air is almost unbearable.  As a matter of fact, a quick Google search for [tenderloin san francisco], the third most popular suggests it is an [area to avoid in San Francisco, warnings or dangers].  It is, indeed, a dark place.

Yet, every year during Thanksgiving and Christmas, I am drawn to this part of town.  Rain or shine in the last six years, it’s myself and 600 other volunteers who visit the streets ready to serve and encourage those who are less fortunate and remind them that there is a good God and He loves us very much.  It is truly a special time for me.  Each time, it warms my heart to see the same amazing familiar faces and meet new ones that I have the privilege to chat with, even for just a few moments.

This morning was full of smiles, hugs, and hand shakes with the people of the Tenderloin. Volunteers have the option to do one of a few things — prepare meals, deliver food, bag groceries or greet the line, among others.  Today, when it is cold and wet, it is tempting to take the most convenient route and do work that requires you to be indoors where it is dry and warm.  But I remember Beth Moore once asked, how far would any of us go to be inconvenienced for God?  It is nowhere comparable to how far some of the most dedicated missionaries we have in this world would go but today, I wanted to be out there in the blistering wet, cold and engage on a one on one basis with the community. 

As a line greeter, I was tasked to walk down the street and greet people while they all stood in line in eager anticipation to fill their tummies with a warm meal. Though many of them looked disoriented, probably from the effects of substance abuse or more likely, from extreme hunger and hardship of life, there was no shortage of [toothless] smiles and expressions of gratitude.  It was humbling to see that.  Even in the midst of having been dealt with cards I would not wish on my worst enemy, they still have it in them to exude light and feel thankful.  It is a sight worth remembering throughout the year. I had the utmost pleasure of running into Salvador, a Filipino immigrant who carries a warm and infectious smile, whom I met six years ago when I first got into volunteer work.  While he was not there with his wife, I was pleased to see him look so alive and healthy.  We exchanged a handshake, then a hug and he eventually went for a kiss on the cheek after all the excitement. The feeling of warmth and fuzziness bubbled in my stomach.  I couldn’t be happier.

It never fails, leaving Tenderloin always creates mixed emotions.  While on the one hand, I feel extremely lucky to be coming back to a home that’s filled with family, friends and an abundance of delicious food, I know that the unfortunate circumstance will remain the same for the people whom I just served.  I hope to develop a compassionate enough heart to want to do more — not just have this be a two days out of the year affair, rather turn it into a way of life.  I want to get to a state where my heart wrenches so tightly at the sight of it that I won’t be able to stand it and will be pushed to do something about it.  What’s that something?  Who knows.  Something.  I know there is so much more room for me to grow as a Christian. I’m nowhere even close to where God wants me to be.

For now, I pray to God that at least, one person out there who attended the event today found comfort in God — that this small act of kindness that each of us volunteers did this morning made a difference in someone’s eternal outcome.  Even if it ends up just being one person,  our efforts will not be in vein.

For my friends and family who came out today to join me — bless your hearts, God is smiling down upon us.  I hope it was as fulfilling for you as it was for me.