Article May 1, 2000 Issue

Safe wherever you are

You can't roam outside of God's care.

By Shirley J. Clark Jones

While attending a professional conference, I sat during the lunch break with a woman from New York City, who was blind. Since she lives only a few blocks from her job, she normally walks to work. Someone at the table asked her if she were afraid to walk about the city, especially since she couldn't see. She replied that she wasn't, and went on to explain that although she's in a very large city, the area where she lives and works is like a small, close-knit community. Even the homeless people who regularly frequent her area are part of what she views as her community family. She explained that many of these people greet her on her way to and from work, and look out for her safe passage.

She told us that one day she had to go to a meeting in another part of town. To get there she had to make two subway changes. It was pouring rain that day, and she was not relishing the trip. As she headed for the subway entrance, one of her homeless friends came to her and remarked that she had taken a wrong turn. She explained that she needed to go to a meeting in a different part of town. He offered to accompany her to make sure she got there safely, and he did just that, holding her umbrella and guiding her around puddles.

What kept this woman from feeling afraid? Wasn't it that she viewed her fellow man as family? She looked upon each individual with love instead of fear or the expectation of harm or violence.

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