Last week I had to take my husband to Nashville to see his cardiologist. I didn’t really want to go into the waiting room, because there were numerous tests needing to be done, it was going to be hours. I made sure I had a little bit of money (for lunch while waiting), had the garmin set to go, plenty of books to read, and pillows in the back seat for a nap if the mood hit.
I was only going to be across the road from Centennial Park, a BEAUTIFUL park for any that haven’t been there. It’s right at the edge of downtown, close to the Centennial Heart/Hospital complex. It’s also the home of the Parthenon, a BEAUTIFUL re-creation of the original in Athens. It was a stormy day, lots of rain on the drive down and random outbursts throughout the afternoon~I would still be able to go to the park and if nothing else sit in my car and just look at the beauty everywhere.
I drove up the road to get some lunch, just a burger meal from a local burger joint, and had already decided since it was raining I would drive to the park and sit in the car by the lake and watch the ducks and geese. I’m easy to please, lol, what can I say? So I went and got my meal, drove around to find the ideal place with the best view of the lake. I had been eating the fries on the drive around, I feel like it’s more than a bit unsafe to drive around trying to eat a messy burger, found my place to park, and would finish my lunch.
I was sitting there in the rain, admiring the ducks and geese, and I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I didn’t pay it much mind as I was enjoying the lake scenery. The continued movement drew my eyes to the cause, and I saw a man~a man digging in the trash can beside me. I was shocked, completely in shock. I’m 45 years old and I’ve seen homeless people in Australia, Seattle, Vancouver Canada, and even in the city I reside in…but I had never actually seen anyone digging through the trash for something to eat.
I knew this was a reality for some, but this crushed me.
After taking note of this, and what was going on around me, I noticed there were other people parked in their cars around me, doing the same thing I was doing. I couldn’t figure out why wasn’t somebody giving this man something? Why wasn’t someone sharing their lunch with him?
I couldn’t eat my burger…my conscience would not allow me to do it. I knew I had enough change I could go and buy another burger, this burger was hot and fresh and safe to eat, I was there, this man was there. I was nervous, I’ll admit…you hear so much stuff on t.v. about homeless people being dangerous. I didn’t care. My exact thoughts were, "I cannot sit my fat ass here in my comfortable car and eat this burger, knowing that man is hungry and digging through the garbage for his meal".
By this point it was pouring down rain, and I just couldn’t let him walk away without something hot to eat. I rolled my window down, asked him to come over to the car, and told him I had a burger if he’d like it, it was hot, and I wanted him to have it if he wanted it. He accepted it, looked me in the eyes, thanked me, and walked back over to the trash can. He continued to dig for more stuff, had found a liquor bottle that had something in it and turned it up.
I watched him for a few more minutes before I left, wondering if he had children, or family that knew where he was or was wondering where he was. I gave him nothing but a burger, but I hope he was able to feel the love, the pain for his plight, and the empathy at the complex turns his life had evidently taken.
I don’t think I’ll ever feel the same way about that park.
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