mistaken identity

4.27.2009

"As you have done unto the least of these, so have you done unto me" 

-Matthew 25:40

I met Jesus today while I was sitting on the curb outside of the Post Office. He approached me short in stature, barefooted, holding an old tomato paste can. His ragged clothes a clear indication of the questions that would follow.

"Give me 100 CFA" Jesus asked.

"I don't have 100 CFA" I lied. He looked at me with sad eyes, but they weren't fooling me. When you get asked for money everyday it wears you down until you begin responding before seeing their need; their humanity. In my eyes a talibe just like every other talibe stood before me. This was not Jesus. He sat down next to me and continued to stare. My eyes wandered to his shoeless feet. They were calloused and ash colored from so much contact with the rough terrain. I imagined the pain he must feel as he walked across scalding black pavement or walked through trash piles littered with broken glass and old rusted metal. 

These thoughts aroused my dormant compassion and I asked the boy if he wanted a mango. He nodded his head and I reached in my bag to offer one. He took it but just held it carefully in his hands. 

"Where is your mom?" I asked.

"Guinea." he responded.

"And your dad?"

"Guinea."

This child was a talibe, separated from his family probably because they couldn't care for him. He spend his days walking the streets begging and his nights learning the Koran. The boy looked down at his feet, then at me.

"Can you buy me some shoes?" he asked. My compassion was still slowly awakening. It had remnants of sleep crusted on its eyes.

"No, I'm sorry I only have money for my bus ride home" I lied again. The guilt I felt was a sharp pinch that actually hurt. The 500CFA I had in my pocket for breakfast suddenly felt very heavy. How easily I could have skipped breakfast and spent the money on new sandals for this boy.

He looked at me without judgment, stood up and walked away, but not before turning his head back to say, "Ba beneen yoon" Until another time. I only hope that next time I will recognize Jesus in the eyes of that boy and freely give all that I can.