Shoes Instead of Plastic Bags

 

It was pouring rain outside.  We were on patrol behind a local shopping mall when I could see that someone had leaned a wooden pallet up against the back door of one of the stores.  I mentioned to the patrol officer that it looked like a child’s car seat behind it, but I wasn’t sure.  With a closer look we determined there was a person huddled up asleep or passed out behind the pallet. As we exited the patrol vehicle the officer walked closer to get a better look.  He walked quietly but closely, trying to determine who this was and were they armed.  He got just a couple of feet from them without waking them up.  Whoever this was, they were deeply asleep or drugged up to a level where they were not alert to their surroundings. The officer gently nudged the person and said, “Beaverton Police, are you alright?”  Their hands slipped down in front of their huddled up body exposing a young woman’s face.  It was pale and the only distinguishing feature was a long trail of black mascara that had been disturbed by her tears.  As the officer tried to get some information from her, she uncoiled from her huddled position and I could see she had two small garbage bags tied tightly to her feet to keep her socks dry.  She told us that she had fallen asleep on the MAX train and woke up in Beaverton. Neither of us had seen her before.  She wasn’t familiar with our area and looked fearful.  I asked her if I could give her a Goodwill gift card for fifteen dollars so she could get herself some real shoes. She was greatly appreciative, and then I gave her a McDonalds gift card to provide her with some food.  Not every transient in our city is worthy of these gifts because most are here to use drugs without the fear of accountability and they are just selling or stealing whatever they can, not for housing, food, shoes or to make their lives better, but for their next “fix.”  But she was different, she didn’t look like a drug addict but appeared to be a victim of bad circumstances and poor choices.  I gave her the cards along with directions and she started on her way to a nearby Goodwill.  She stopped, looked back at me with tears in her eyes, and thanked me for my generosity.  I leaned in toward her and reminded her that there is always hope!

 

Our encounter with her reminds me of how Jesus tries to help us when we are lost, runaway, confused, and not prepared for where our lives have led us, sometimes hiding from the very one who might be able to help us. Jesus shows up at our worst moments with a reminder that he loves us and cares for us. He then provides us with the means and steps to move in a new direction if we choose to receive it.

 

Jim McGuire

Beaverton PD Chaplain

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