I was late leaving the office. As I rounded the corner, I could see and elderly lady and a crowd of people building as she stood tentatively at the top of the escalator. I thought to myself, "I don't have time for this." Just as I got to the crowd, I saw the woman's cane and I saw another elderly lady behind her and then my thought was, why isn't anyone helping her down? Wasn't anyone with her? Before those thoughts could register, a tall black man, whom I doubt the woman knew, guided her onto the escalator. He held her arm in his all the way down, telling her she was ok. Others impatiently peered around him (he was blocking the left, which is the "walk lane" if you will on DC escalators) but I just felt shame at myself. I was in my flesh, on some me me me mess (what I had just been complaining about other people doing earlier) and this woman could have been my own grandmother. Ok LORD, I hear you.
After feeling that correction, I walked down the platform and waited for the next train. A train arrived and there's always a rush to get on, barely space and time for those getting off the train. There was a woman in a wheelchair, I paused and left room for her to board the train before me. What happened at the next stops had mw close to tears.
There wasn't much space with all the people for her to shift her chair. No one could be bothered, so people were literally climbing over her to get out the door even though they could walk around her the other way. Some did walk the other way, but completely disregarded her, purses and bags hitting her in the head and back as they exited. A lady sitting near her asked if she could shift her chair (as people continued to climb over her to enter the train) and she said she couldn't (and for real, nobody was giving her time or space to try) and she said she was used to it. The look on her face brings tears to my eyes even now. The lady replied, "You shouldn't be used to that disrespect." And it's true.
My point in sharing my observations? I realized how selfish we as a people have become. We're so focused on our own needs and wants, we disregard the man or woman next to us. A few lessons - when we react out of our flesh, we often miss the whole picture and we find ourselves in folly. Secondly, we ought to prefer others over ourselves. Third. We need to look up from our thoughts, our smartphones, etc. and really see those around us and be sensitive to one another.
It's easy to get caught up, but most of all it was a reminder to me that I live in this world, but I am not of it. I cannot take on a worldly attitude, but say I am a disciple of Jesus. I am thankful for the correction. I am not condemned, but I can take what I observed and do better in my mind, heart, and actions moving forward. I repent and go on.
