Meet my friend Lucinda…
The homeless camp on Northwest Highway near Shiloh Road has been bulldozed. This news was posted mere days after I
took dinner to the “community table” of the camp. My heart sank. One person reported seeing a pile of rubble in the
aftermath. Another shared sighting of a single tent and camper still standing on the land. As my heart sank a little deeper,
I thought of the small number of possessions that were now lost forever by the bulldozing. Each time someone removes
a homeless encampment; the people must start over again with absolutely nothing but the clothes on their back. There is
literally nothing remaining for them to take to their next “place”. No blanket, no box or bag to carry their things, nothing
remains of a person’s belongings when the camp is eliminated. Sometimes people arrive at the camp only to find nothing –
officials have removed everything without warning.
My heart hurts as I read the posts sharing the great relief that this “eyesore” is now gone and the grounds are tidy once
again. I suppose it’s easier to hold a practical, unemotional point of view when a person identifies the residents of a
homeless camp as criminals, addicts, and lazy folks who want to be homeless. When one feels distant from the
circumstances that may contribute to homelessness it is perhaps harder to be empathetic. From time to time, when I
delivered meals, one of the inhabitants of the camp was willing to greet me and chat, other times I was observed with
suspicious eyes. Sometimes, I was disregarded by a couple of folks engrossed in whatever was going on in front of them.
There were individuals, obviously high on something. There were three guys, inspecting a fishing pole, and there was a
“family” huddled in a tent with the door unzipped and tied back allowing the late afternoon breeze to drift into the tent.
These are the inhabitants of the homeless camp that no longer exists.
Today I pause to share a beautiful experience of meeting a lovely young woman at a local department store. I will call her
Lucinda. Lucinda was an effervescent cashier who I watched greet every customer with a joyful “hello, tell me how you are
today”. While I waited in line, I noticed more than once that Lucinda knew personal details about several of the customers
that she was taking care of. “How’s your little boy?’ she asked one customer. “Is that wife of yours doing better?” she
asked of an elderly man. When my turn came, she greeted me with a bright beautiful smile and a sparkle in her eyes.
Before she could speak, I asked her what kept her so cheerful and engaged with every customer. I wanted to know what
moved in her to ask and remember something significant about each person she encountered. “Oh, ma’am”, she began
and took me on an abridged version of the journey of her life. In the end, she exclaimed, “God has been good to me”!
I am inspired by this declaration because as I learned in later conversations, her journey included a period of time, shortly
after her dear mama passed away, that Lucinda was homeless. Over time, I made a point to be in Lucinda’s checkout line.
I wanted to know so much more about this woman with a larger-than-life personality. I feel privileged to have spent time
with Lucinda, to get to know her, and to meet her young son. Lucinda shared herself and her life without prompting. She
shared the ups and downs and how she made her way out of homelessness. I am astounded and inspired by the positivity
with which she views life and lives every day with gusto – even the challenging moments along the way.
As time passed, I learned more about Lucinda and we began to connect outside of her workplace. You see, Lucinda
wanted more than anything to go to college. She had a vision of the work she truly wished to do and that would mean she
would need to first complete her GED then enter college. We began studying together with the huge GED prep books in
front of us. I eventually met her son and some of her neighbors.
We laughed often as the weeks progressed. It seemed easy for her to laugh at herself and at the irony of life. Then,
everything halted in March of 2020 with shelter in place orders. I look forward to being with Lucinda and her son again
soon. I have been invited into the life of a beautiful soul who without a doubt knows she is loved by her God. A woman so
strong in faith that she can clearly see what she is to become in this world. A woman so certain that even living on the
street, panhandling for coins for food cannot stop her. In fact, her life’s experiences have given her courage to step beyond
any societal judgments and characterizations of homeless persons. You see, Lucinda lives everyday believing that her
God loves her and cares for her. She is boldly using every life experience to strengthen that faith, to grow in wisdom and
knowledge, and to become all that she is intended to be and do.
I say: “Look out world, Lucinda is just beginning”. There is a light in her that shines brightly for anyone on her path. There
is a kindness that radiates from her for anyone willing to receive it. There is a love that pours out of her heart that is
comforting and welcoming for everyone, without exception. I am a grateful recipient of that love and kindness.
Homelessness is life for many. Homelessness is accompanied by distinctive aromas and visuals. We see them from a
distance and we see them as strangers, yet Lucinda is anything but a stranger to me. She is a real living, breathing, vibrant
human being. The causes of homelessness are many. The solutions for homelessness are challenging. Compassion
toward the homeless is easy and free.
PS our Little Free Food Cupboard needs your help. Drop off non-perishable food items as you are able.
Much love and many blessings,
Rev. Karen