On my journey from TN back to MO I had the amazing opportunity to observe an interesting aspect of city culture as I waited 12 hours for a bus (it was just a bit late). I arrived in Cincinnati with 5 hours to wait till my next bus arrived. I stopped in a local bagel shop to get out of the rain and check some emails. Fortunately in my excitement about going to TN I had forgotten my computer charger, and within 30minutes my comps battery life had hit zero, and the rain had stopped.
So, I packed up my bags, and went to sit on a bench near the bus stop. While there I had the pleasure of meeting a man selling magazines, I sadly do not remember his name. We talked a bit about life, his story, and how sales were going for the day. I have this horrible habit of being easily distracted, so, while we were talking my eyes occasionally drifted to the people passing by. As soon as my eyes caught there’s, their eyes averted to anything they could find and they sped up their pace to pass us by.
Approximately 30 minutes later another man stopped by to share with me his story. He was dressed in an off-white button up shirt, with a tie, brown khaki pants and what I what I can best describe as an Oliver Twist hat. Around his neck was a well-loved harmonica, and on his back was a soft guitar case. I instantly thought this man needs to be playing at Sub 7 (Milligan’s coffee house); he’s got style. He began to talk, and my thoughts were confirmed, as he was clearly not from around town, or even the country. He introduced himself as Millington Maxwell Monroe, or as he is known in Cincinnati, the exotic (foreign) beggar. He began to share with me his story, and how he used word of mouth and playing his music on the streets to have his music heard. He told me to be aware that appearance is everything that his style helps gain him respect on the streets.
I continued to noticed the averting eyes…
Newspaperman came by and said goodbye for the day and wished me well in my journey. I wished him the same.
It began to rain again, so I picked up my stuff and found an awning near my bus stop and sat down with my stuff beside me. I couldn’t stop thinking about those averting eyes. I wanted to know why people were so afraid.
So, I sat my camera up a few feet away from myself and used my camera as a social study for the people passing by as they noticed me sitting with my bags, in my travel clothing and colorful socks. It became so clear as to how much people were trying to avoid eye contact or even proximity. I watched as people noticed me and dodged off to the far right, sometimes even into traffic. My camera, even on 28mm, could not capture the extent at which they were trying to avoid my gaze and keep me in the frame.
I went to pick up my camera as man walked out the door. He said
“don’t worry I wasn’t trying to steal your camera.” I looked at him, laughed and explained what I was doing. This man was the only person in the last 20minutes whose eyes made contact with mine, and stayed there. A top hat covered his bald head and if I had taken a head shot of him, no one would have noticed the difference between him and the suits that paced from one building to the next. It was with a further look that caused the averted eyes, because he, like I wore clothes that were just a bit too big, and miss-matched according to society. They might have been a bit older than the fancy suits, and bit more worn. Brian began to share with me his story,
And I watched as the eyes averted…
We continued our chat as others from my bus began to pile in around us. All avoiding eye contact, accept those few who were brave enough to give a few harsh glances and loud whispers. I looked back and saw crosses hanging from necks of these whispers and masks. I saw Louis Vuitton and Gucci bags attached to tightly clenched fists. Brian continued to chat for a bit, and as he the whispers grew louder and the masks grew more comfortable with their glances directed our way, he said “I don’t want to take your time. I will go.” I told him no time was taken, only gifted, and I wished him well.
The masks averted their glances…
I went and stood by my stuff and the whispers suddenly softened as the realization hit. In the next hours many friends, like Brian, Millington and Newspaper man passed through, asking for a simple offering from the clinched fists, loud whispers and well fitted masks. Sometimes it was a plea for food, a few cents or simply a place to stand out of the rain.
I watched as the eyes averted…
I talked and listened, offered a few drinks and pistachios. I know this may not be the best thing to do, but I could not handle the thought of putting on a mask, clinching a fist and whispering to suits. Most of those I offered a snack to thought my herbal Dr. Enuf sodas were kind of weird; we simply laughed about the idea of healthy sodas. A few were concerned about the appearance of my pistachios when I asked if they were allergic to nuts; we simply joked about the strange mysteries of this world.
I made a lot of friends in those 12 hours. I may never see them again as none had a number to leave or a facebook page to connect with, but they all had eyes that were not afraid to meet mine.
They were the averted, but to me, they were no different than I.
In my four years of college, and 22 years of life, I have learned daily something new about the heart of Christ. Here is my understanding of the gospel, and here is why I live to love, rather than to avert my eyes:
The Gospel is the one true news for this world. It is the news that Christ, our Messiah, came to this Earth to free us of our sins and create for us a new life in him. This new life would be displayed through each of us as we share the part of Christ within us, the Holy Spirit, and through Koinonia, a community oriented on Christ. Through the Gospel we learn that love is the truest answer, and the ability to share the love of our father to this world is our greatest gift. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-32 we see Paul writing to those in Corinth explaining that the Church is one body with many parts. Each member and each gift is necessary for the whole. Christ was the cohesion for the whole Church. Within all believers is the Holy Spirit, a glimpse of Christ within each of us. It is the Holy Spirit that makes Agape, unconditional love, the greatest gift within each of us. That is why Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 13 to discuss the characteristics of Love. As the church in Corinth was trying to decipher what gift among them was the greatest, he explained that the greatest gift was the ability each of us has to share the Love of Christ and to embody such a love. The Gospel calls the church to reach out to all nations and all people, as Christ did, destroying all land borders and social barriers.
