A Man Walking Twisted

July 23, 2012

The train was taking almost 20 to 30 minutes to leave for home and a man walking twisted, on his two hands and on one foot went onto the ladies cart. He is known around the train station for begging. As he went through the car asking for money, Eric waited for him by the exit until he finished. When he did come, Eric bent low and motioned to his mouth making the universal signal for eating. He pointed to a man selling food a couple of steps away. The man nodded in agreement, accepting the offer to eat. They both went over to the stand and sat next to each other on the ground. Eric bought him potato curry on two rotis. He ate and shared some with Eric. Eric then pulled his huge two liter water bottle out and they shared swigs of water. There wasn’t any talking, just quietness and solitude in the exchange. I watched from the exit of the ladies car, just across from them. I wasn’t the only one. Everyone around them looked, intrigued. Those waiting for the train stood closer to them, with their hands on their hips, staring at the picture.

It was like a painting of two worlds that don’t belong together. I couldn’t help but think of Jesus as I stared on from my cart because it all just seemed so out of place. A Hispanic but Indian looking, twenty-something year old, college student, was eating with a cripple, sharing a meal and water in the train station. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus explains, “Truly , I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” As he waited for the train, I think that Eric had lunch with Jesus. It was simple, no glamour. No words were even exchanged, yet their silenced echoed through the whole platform.

by Sasha