A Lesson From Pizza

I passed a man downtown the other day. He was holding an empty white Starbucks cup in one hand and a crude cardboard sign in the other that simply stated: "I'm just hungry."

You can imagine the reaction of all of us, all of the thousands of people milling around. Our eyes shifted from the crosswalk to the flowers and pretended to register nothing in between, acting as though we didn't see him. And perhaps some of us didn't. It is justified, in one sense. I've made eye contact before only to have them call out to me because they know I see. I have trouble putting coins into their cups. You never know what the money is used for. His eyes were a watery kind of red, and he seemed tired.

So we passed him on our way to get pizza. And we passed him on our way back from pizza. And we had an idea, to give him what was left of our pizza. Different scenarios played through our minds, like him throwing the pizza back and saying that's not what he wanted (had that happen before), or having him set it down and continue begging (had that happen, too). But the force with which he took that box was staggering. We offered it casually, we had pizza, would he like it? He grabbed that box like there was no tomorrow and set off for the park with a look on his face that said plainly, "I'm done for the night." For a brief millisecond, I saw a kind of ravenous hunger in his eyes that surprised me. That man was hungry. How long he'd been hungry, I don't know.

But I have to admit something. I'm a bit frustrated at the whole thing. Because we gave him food, but we didn't do anything else for him. I don't mean materially, but more like sitting with him as he ate, talking with him. Treating him like he's human for a change. I didn't even consider this until much later that night. Too focused on friends and myself. But that's not Christianity. And it's not the way that the Lord would have done it. Too often I find myself making a sort of hit and run, wanting to do good but forgetting about the opportunities to be Christ. Christ made time for people. He listened. He was always about his Father's business. And out of love for Christ, my priorities must be the same.

Don't get me wrong, the Lord definitely said to fulfill the needs of those around you (otherwise you fit the definition of James 2), but Jesus often filled a physical need while intending to reach the need of the soul. And I think such behaviour is rare enough to floor people to listen.

Now, to remember to act. =)