As I got into my truck to head to work I discovered that I had been burgled. Someone had illegally entered my truck and rifled through it. I swiftly realized that I had left my yellow backpack in the truck and had probably left the truck unlocked thinking that I would come back out to get it and lock up after dinner.
Since we live in a rural setting I have not been as vigilant against theft as I ought to be. On the other hand I didn’t have anything of real value in the truck in terms of monetary value. Unfortunately I had some negatives in the backpack that I were going to be sadly missed.
In the past two years I have witnessed more transient activity. The homeless issue has stretched beyond the downtown core and more recently located itself in a new shelter that I now pass daily on my way into campus.
As I drove to work I wondered if they would have taken the time to open up the backpack and realize that there was nothing of much value in terms of food or money. Sure enough a half mile up the road I could see the contents of my backpack strewn alongside the road.
I felt grateful for retrieving my possessions but I also felt a bit sad that the needs that existed for this person were not met. They didn’t even want my bright yellow water proof backpack. I had nothing of real value beyond an external hard drive which remains lost.
In the big scheme of things I am lucky and fortunate. I do think I need to contribute more to the solutions to these problems and should probably get involved with some social agency that can offer food and shelter.
But for today I will pray that unmet needs eventually become fulfilled and I will drive on with humility and gratitude.
