Finding Hope in the West End
by David Mayernik Jr., editor
Usually when I drive home from work at the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Chancery in Pittsburgh, there’s a man standing to the side of traffic on the ramp leading up to the West End Bridge.
He holds a tattered cardboard sign indicating he is homeless, walks back and forth, and holds out his hand for any cash or coins motorists can do without.
Unfortunately, I’m certain he’s not the only such person standing on Pittsburgh’s many bridges during rush hour.
A few days before Christmas, I watched a driver two cars in front of me stop his car to talk to the man and hold out his arm to offer him a few dollars and some change. As the cars in front of him proceeded to make their way to the bridge, leaving a gap Usually when I drive home from work at the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Chancery in Pittsburgh, there’s a man standing to the side of traffic on the ramp leading up to the West End Bridge. He holds a tattered cardboard sign indicating he is homeless, walks back and forth, and holds out his hand for any cash or coins motorists can do without. Unfortunately, I’m certain he’s not the only such person standing on Pittsburgh’s many bridges during rush hour.
A few days before Christmas, I watched a driver two cars in front of me stop his car to talk to the man and hold out his arm to offer him a few dollars and some change. As the cars in front of him proceeded to make their way to the bridge, leaving a gap between his vehicle and the others, I’m embarrassed to say my first response was to get perturbed and hope the driver would press his right foot on the gas pedal again to make up the difference.
After all, myself and the other automobiles lined up in a row behind me had to get to dinner inside our warm homes. I have to admit it wasn’t my proudest moment. I won’t presume to speak for anyone but myself but I am well-aware it can be very easy to get wrapped up in one’s own problems and not think about the needs of other people.
That’s certainly not the Christian way. I did some reflection upon this moment before I sat down to write this and came to the conclusion I am glad the anonymous driver stopped traffic, no doubt to offer this man hope in what has to be an otherwise profoundly difficult life.
I can’t imagine being in his shoes and watching all those cars drive past me day after day with people averting their eyes to their cell phones, radios and anything else within glancing distance inside their cars.
Hopelessness is not an easy thing to witness eye-to-eye. It takes a special person to be brave enough to offer someone a hand to hold or a shoulder to lean on. I hope being offered a few I can’t imagine being in his shoes and watching all those cars drive past me day after day with people averting their eyes to their cell phones, radios and anything else within glancing distance inside their cars.
Hopelessness is not an easy thing to witness eye-to-eye. It takes a special person to be brave enough to offer someone a hand to hold or a shoulder to lean on. I hope being offered a few words of encouragement on a Monday afternoon in December made a difference in this man’s life. I make it a point to remind myself there’s always hope in Christ. We’ve all gone through hardships in life and there’s always crosses to bear. But faith in Christ keeps me going and is a reminder there is always light at the end of life’s proverbial tunnels. And bridges, too.
