Sitting In Soil

Yesterday I was doing homeless outreach at a popular beach vacation destination. I got the call to report the boardwalk because one of our client was experiencing a medical emergency. I am no longer a first responder. But since this gentleman was in our system, I got the call none the less. 

This man was refusing medical treatment, and I was asked to at least provide some food, socks and a blanket. I ran back to my office to gather supplies, and then I rushed to the boardwalk where the team was waiting for me. Parking my car, I headed towards them as fast as I could. When I arrived, the gentleman was sitting in his own soil. Open soars on his feet with dozens of flies landing on him. Some people stopped to look, while others went on their way. The reality of this is that it happens all too often.

I went to him and introduced myself, and then gave him 3 bags a food, along with the socks and a blanket. He was laying on the ground unable to get into his wheelchair. He gave me fist bump of appreciation and said God bless you. By this time, half of the team had to leave, but I stayed, along with a two other team members. 

He was in great pain, and wanted to die. Legally there was nothing we could do because he refused medical treatment. There was a little beach chair {low to the ground sitting next to him.} He was able to shimmy his way onto it. We exchanged a few brief words, and then myself and other team members left. I now am wondering when I will get the call that he has passed? 

"We think this is bullshit."

Trauma is a bitch, and yet so many of us judge it. Why? We have no idea what someone has gone through to make them act the way they do. How many of us have gone to the mall, or some other place to do some shopping, and saw what appears to be a perfectly healthy person parking in a handicap spot? We think this is bullshit, and yet we have no idea what their handicap is? Some of us even go as far as calling them out on it, like we're the defender of the handicap parking spots. And while our intention maybe pure, the last thing someone wants to have to do is justify their pain or trauma to some random person. Or, we see that man or woman on the side of the road asking for change. Many of us don't give it to them because we already made up our minds that they are going to use it on drugs or alcohol. And the truth is, we have no idea. 

Just like yesterday when I saw people looking with disgust at this gentleman sitting in his own soil, they had no idea of the trauma that he has endured. They have no idea of the cancer that he is battling. And they certainly didn't see a man who is someone's father, child, brother or sister. And honestly, I don't know what they saw. All I can say about days like yesterday is that I cannot judge it. And I will not judge trauma. We have no idea. And even if we did, who are we to judge anyways?

So please be mindful that the next time you see someone sitting in soil. There is trauma being carried deep within that person. And they are a person. And they should be afforded the same respect that you would want. 

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend.