forgive me...

to the beautiful woman who sat at the top of the exit ramp:

forgive me for driving past you on more than one occasion. forgive me for hoping that the light would be green so i wouldn't have to stop and see you. forgive me for turning away when the light turned red. forgive me for not wanting to see. forgive me for ignoring your cardboard cry for food. shelter. love.

you did not look at me. i think you must know that your need makes me feel uncomfortable. and i didn't look at you either. because i don't want you to see the pity in my eyes. and the self-loathing in my eyes. as i pray for the light to turn green. so i don't have to see you anymore.

there is no shame in you. there is shame in me. i don't want to see you and accidentally find out that Jesus is in you. that Jesus loves you. and that Jesus told me to love you too. shame on me.

shame on me.

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me'