forgotten faces

Faces impressed upon my memory.
Close my eyes and I can see them
Begging
Desperate
Wanting so much to give
yet feeling so incompetent.
A mother with her baby on her back
bowing low to the ground
bowing to me-a “farang”
(a foreigner)
really just a nobody.

A figure
Lying, crippled on the street
Hands reaching out
Lifted in need to tourists passing by
What is this man’s story?

A child
My friend
Standing at the side of a pool at camp
Eyes twinkling with excitement
Teeth rotting, yet mouth stretched wide in a smile
Jesus in her face

Are these faces forgotten?
Are they invisible?
The poor, the destitute
These are our neighbors
These are our friends

Will we reach out?
Will their stories be told?

A couple of weeks ago, my pastor e-mailed me an adapted prayer of the Franciscan tradition. It was an encouragement to me and I can resonate with so much of what is said. I hope you will as well.

May God bless you with discomfort:
At easy answers, at half-truths,
And superficial relationships
-so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger:
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed:
For those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war
So that you may reach out your had
To comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishess:
To believe that you can make a difference in this world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen