Our Trip to the East Coast

We just returned a few days ago from a trip to the East Coast.  We began our travels last Thursday morning at 3:30 am.  We caught a flight out of Grand Rapids at 6am and landed in Baltimore around 7:30.  We quickly caught the commuter train to Washington D.C. and were finding our way through the Metro system by 8:30am.  We wandered around the National Mall and checked out the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History before our hotel room was available at 2:30.  Needless to say, we were exhausted by that point and all ready for a nap.  Well, all except Max of course.  He only naps when ill, and not all the time even then.

We spent 3 days in D.C. going to several of the museums, checking out the memorials, and even got a tour of the White House gardens.  The weather wasn't great, but we still had a great time.  We caught the train back to Baltimore on Sunday morning where we met up with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nieces.  We spent the afternoon wander around Inner Harbor and touring some historic ships that are docked there.  We went to the National Aquarium in Inner Harbor on Monday and then had dinner with my cousin and her family.  Tuesday was our last day in Baltimore and it was pouring down rain, so we spent the day at the Maryland Science Center.  I've been to several science centers and I must say the one in Baltimore is one of the best I've been to.  Bill, my parents and I all got sucked into the exhibits as much if not more than the boys.  It was a great day, and a great vacation all around.

We planned our trip so that we wouldn't need a car, which was fun and surprisingly very easy.  I liked it too because it made me feel like I belonged there.  I love urban life.  I truly wish I lived in a major city.  Bill loves it as well and if it weren't for our kids, we might move to Chicago or D.C. or some other major metropolitan area.  But I always struggle a little when I'm in the city because there is so much obvious need.  Baltimore had a huge homeless population and that caused a bit of angst for me.  I think I struggle so much because I want badly to help in a greater way than I can as a visitor - we gave away all of our leftover dinners to homeless folks we encountered, but it isn't enough.  I wanted to let them know there is another way - you don't have to live like this - but then I realized I'd just be blowing hot air as far as they were concerned.  I didn't live there and I had no real understanding of the resources available to them.  It made my heart hurt to know that I have the answer, but I'm not sure they want to hear it and I'm not sure I'm in a position to give it.

Does that sound crazy?  Would it have helped for me to run up to the couple we gave our leftover seafood to and say, "Jesus loves you and wants to set you free from your life of hopelessness"?  Is having the answer and giving it enough?  Maybe I should have done just that, but somehow that doesn't seem like that is the whole answer.  I don't know.  Am I putting too much emphasis on my part and not enough on the saving grace of Jesus? Again, I don't know.

I do know there's a lot of pain out there and I want to help in the process of healing it.  I feel a bit unable to truly make a difference in the location I find myself, but then I realize there are plenty of hurting people all around me.  They don't have to be homeless or addicts to need the healing and restoration Jesus gives. But seeing people in the same state I was in 11 years ago really does a number on my heart.  Maybe someday I'll be in a place where I can help those hurting folks, but today I'll purpose to be a light and bring the healing of Jesus to the hurting around me here and now.  Is that enough?

I don't know.