You may not think much of this picture—it is just another busy New York sidewalk. But this means something more to me. Just before this picture was taken, a young girl was sitting on this sidewalk. She sat on the pavement while hundreds of feet shuffled by. She was frowning, her eyes were full of despair. She held a sign reading that she had no money. The instant I saw her, I became full of fear, for she seemed angry and unfriendly. I walked past her barely thinking anything. Suddenly, an old familiar voice tugged at my spirit. “Go back to her and talk to her.” “Lord, what will I even say to her?” “Go talk to her.”
It was a voice I knew I couldn’t silent. A rush of butterflies exploded in my stomach. I looked back at her and noticed how young she looked. Immediately, I thought of all the horror stories I had heard of girls who were forced into prostitution. How many of them were also forced to beg for money? I do not know what went over me, but I walked to her, quickening my pace with every step. I knelt down and she looked at me.
Her eyes no longer looked harsh, but instead softened and began to shine. Her frown was no longer angry, but was turned into the most brilliant smile I have ever seen. I was taken aback by it — by the majestic beauty of her. From afar she looked young, yet from close up, she looked like a doll that has gone through wear and tear, tirelessly trying to not fall apart. Her bones were showing and her eyes looked swollen. Yet, I could not help but see her beauty. My heart melted.
“Do you want to have lunch with me?” Her smile faded. Nervously looking around she replied, “I can’t. My boyfriend is supposed to pick me up in 30 minutes.” My heart sunk. A hundred bad situations flashed through my mind. “But if you come back in an hour, we can.” I knew she would most likely not return but agreed nonetheless. “I’m Faith, by the way.” She shook my hand, “I’m Angela.” We said our goodbyes and I walked away.
I went back to that spot an hour later and noticed she was not there. I waited for a while but she never showed. Looking back at the situation, I deeply regret not sitting on the sidewalk with her until her boyfriend showed up. I could have said or done something more.
I know nothing of this young girl. She may have been homeless, she may have been abused, she may have grown up in a broken home, and she may have been a runaway. I guess I will never know. But, I learned something that day. Everyday we pass by people, people that may have a rough exterior, but who can, if we let them, make our hearts melt. They are like angels in disguise. We can be afraid to see the forgotten because we do not know how they will respond. In my experience, it is almost always with more gratitude than I can take in. I noticed that nobody was talking to this girl. Most people did not even see her. How many people do we miss because we are busy?
The only hope I have is knowing that God sees Angela. He sees the millions of others with aids that are ignored. He sees the slave being abused and misused by hundreds of men and women. He sees the woman and man on the sidewalk. If He sees and cares for them, shouldn’t we?
