Palani Ka'auwai Ohana
5 hrs ·
Out of my approximately 25 times, this has definitely been the most heartfelt trip yet. Navigating the streets through the hearts and minds of Portland, Oregon’s urban hosts.
Do you know that there are roughly 5000+ homeless within the blocks of this city?
And did you know that the majority of the homeless are over the age of 50 and under the age of 25?
Along my way I passed a young woman holding a sign that read “Homeless, college student finishing my masters, any contribution will help create solutions for a better tomorrow within these city walls. Please help.”
Hear me: I’ve met engineers on trains and rails going through tunnels, over bridges and within the busy city that they once helped create.
I’ve been schooled by teachers and students alike beneath overpasses that are congested with tents and makeshift homes full of life’s lessons.
I’ve sat with Architects amongst skyscrapers and developments that have left them in ruins.
I’ve shared meals with Cooks with no kitchens, no spices, no utensils, and no food.
Businessmen who have lost everything they’ve owned and can barely pay mind to their own business.
Mothers, fathers, sons and daughters with no families, and no one to call their own. Runaways, castaways,
visitors and Natives.
Pilots with no planes, no ETA and no better destinations.
Boat captains with no vessel, daydreaming at water’s edge on a course that will slowly subside to society’s tsunamis and ebbing tides.
By no means have I taken any time, any mind, or any pictures to dehumanize, demonize or degrade any soul.
As I scroll through the camera roll of images of my trip I don’t see any signs. I don’t see suffering homeless. Rather a genuine call for help, a humble cry for humility, and for me an opportunity to share and care for someone beyond my everyday’s reach.
I care, I truly care. And in every future trip, as I always have, I will continue to move humbly, silently, meekly and on tip-toes full of humility amongst one of the most unique peoples i’ve come to know, to love, appreciate and totally relate to. I’m glad to be home.
No comments:
Post a Comment