This opportunity to talk to ‘Pete’ came as I was serving at Church Under the Bridge. That Sunday was the Sunday before Thanksgiving so we went to serve meals to the homeless and inner-city residents. Before lunch, we had some time so we got to talk to some of the people sitting nearby.
When I first saw ‘Pete,’ he was engrossed in a copy of the newspaper, so much so that I could only see the top of his head. I was a little hesitant to approach him because I didn’t want to interrupt him. But I did anyway. At first, he was very guarded, suspicious of what I was up to talking to him. His eyes were very obviously narrowed, scrutinizing the situation. He even told me he was just trying to read his paper in peace. I was very intimidated. The first couple questions I asked, he gave responses that I can only describe as standoffish. However, as we talked more, I could feel him opening up more and becoming warmer. His eyes softened as he began to smile and laugh more.
Once he started talking, I couldn’t get him to stop. I soon realized that what he had actually been looking for was someone who could listen to him. He went on and on about the challenges he’d faced in his lifetime as well as his frustrations with the government. I could tell he really kept up with current events and cared about what happened in the nation.
One thing that really stood out to me about ‘Pete’ was his emphasis that death is not the end, but the beginning. Although his current situation was not the most desirable, he had a mindset that looked forward to the future. He recognized that his situation in this world was only temporary and that far greater things were in store for him. That served as a great reminder for me and I hope it also serves as a good reminder for anyone reading this: The sorrows of this world are only temporary. Look forward to greater things!!
–Jolene Chao, 1/15/18
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