Candlelight Vigil

“I won't even say I care about these leaves, except that they swirl against a special emptiness.” Everette Hawthorne Maddox, homeless poet, 1944-1989.

About a month ago you may have noticed something striking on the shoulder of Hospital Drive. A cross was wedged into a mound of stones. The cross was a bright metallic blue, and it had a certain sparkle in the morning sun. Whenever I passed it, I assumed that it commemorated a traffic fatality. I was correct, but not exact. It was a memorial to a stray dog, not a person. From the point of view of the people this dog loved most, he was just something to be discarded. They put the animal out on this busy street and left.

I think dogs feel love so deeply that they can't conceive of being simply thrown away. So they wait without hope, but steadfastly, for their human companions to return. Of course they never do return. Often the dog is so loyal that it refuses other help and companionship. This dog happened to be near a community of people who understood in a way few others could. Many of them tried to help the stray, but he wouldn't abandon his vigil by the roadside. The inevitable eventually happened, but the people still cared. The buried the broken body, prayed over it and erected a marker.

Of course the only people who cared about the dog were homeless themselves. You have to wonder how many of them were simply thrown away as well. Some were passed among relatives as they wore out their welcome, until there was no one left willing to give them a home. Many spent time in jail and no one would hire them. Many scraped by until the economy and unexpected expenses cost them everything. Again, in one way or another, many were simply thrown away. However, they still were able to show their compassion for a stray animal on Hospital Drive. Perhaps this is an appropriate time for some of us to show that we have compassion as well.

Many communities across the country give a moment to the homeless every year on December 21st, Homeless Memorial Day. It's appropriate because it's the longest night of the year. This year Douglas County Shelters, Inc. is holding a candlelight vigil in observance of the occasion at the Douglas County Courthouse from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Among the speakers will be Phillip Hunter, United Way Director of Homelessness. They will say a prayer for local homeless people who have passed away out on our streets. I hope they will acknowledge that without the dedicated staff and volunteers at Douglas County Shelters, Inc., over their years of service, many more would have been lost. I expect that we will be asked to consider contributing to the Shelters. In 2012 they may close unless we can give them more support. Merry Christmas, and on Wednesday night please help us show that our community cares.