This picture was sent to me from a friend who was working at the food distributions at Joseph’s Storehouse on the morning of December 23rd.
Notice how the line wraps all the way around the parking lot. What we can’t see is that the people in line closest to the camera still have a long way to go: They will travel up a ramp and back, equivalent in distance to the far corner of the parking lot you see in the middle left of this picture.
My heart broke when I saw this. Mixed emotions swelled up inside: I wanted so badly to help, but was unable to at that particular moment. I wanted to write something, anything, capturing the emotion of the moment, but that didn’t pan out. I felt a particular sadness, seeing all of the people who are so desperately in need during this holiday season, and with that, a particular joy at knowing that there was a place in town where these needs could be met. There was a feeling of sadness that I couldn’t contribute more of my time, more of my resources, more of my energy, and at the same time a satisfaction that I was at least somehow, in some small way, affecting a modicum of change in these peoples’ lives.
I just wish I could do more. Much more.
My hope, and prayer, for these people during this season, is that they would be afforded the chance to experience joy in some fashion, whether the joyous faces handing them food for the holidays, joy found in the company in line, and joy in the most important commodity of them all: time with family and friends during the holiday season.
I know this line represents only a small fraction of the people in need, right here in our own community. It is an overwhelming sight, and renders me feeling like I have very little to offer in terms of helping others.
But I think that’s part of the point here: That I, alone, can only offer so much. Collectively, however, we can all strive to meet the needs of those who have less than us. Working together, giving out of our reserve (even if that reserve is seemingly so little), can mean so much for those who are operating without any.
I believe that whatever we have to offer, whether big or small, is effective. I know we can feel crippled at times, I know the “why bother—I have so little” mentality is so real so much of the time, but my hope is that this holiday season will spark the spirit of giving in all of us, and that the ripples will travel far and wide for the benefit of many who are fortunate enough to be affected. That a collective “little” will accumulate into much, and that the “much” will be bountiful…
