The plight of the homeless
While I hadn't planned on seeking out the homeless during my stay in Korea, It was inevitable that I would surely see some on a trip to a city of 11 million people. This woman, in particular, tugged at my heartstrings after passing her as she sat eating some bread on the sidewalk. She did not appear to be begging as I passed her on the street, but my heart was torn at her circumstances. Obviously, I had no idea of how she wound up on the street, but it begged the question in my own mind, "Where are her children?" The sad reality is that she may have no one or worse yet, she may have no one that actually cares. Of course, I have no children either and could very well be in her shoes someday without someone to care for me in my advanced age.
I had just passed her on the street when the idea to capture her in a photo hastened me to dig through my camera bag for the longest lens I had (70-200mm f/4), put it on my camera body, and after getting some distance between us, I turned and fired this one shot in order to be as unintrusive as possible. Afterwards, on the subway, I considered the stark contrast of the older, homeless lady compared to the anonymous young lady walking by her in the opposite direction. One with matted hair and dirty face, and the other looking as though she were well-to-do and returning from a day of shopping or headed to a party. Did the beautiful young rose in her garden of spring even ponder for a moment in passing that the tired, whitered lily sitting in front of a garbage bag could easily be here in years to come? Life and tomorrow hold a bittersweet and uncertain future for us all, and while the photo may be a sad reflection of any society, this shot has become another favorite. It reminds me that God has poured out his blessings on me and that life is anything but fair. My prayers are that someone rescues her from her misfortune.
When you encounter the homeless, please give without judging and have faith that your gift will work miracles with God's blessing. Hebrews 13: 1-2. "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares".
I had just passed her on the street when the idea to capture her in a photo hastened me to dig through my camera bag for the longest lens I had (70-200mm f/4), put it on my camera body, and after getting some distance between us, I turned and fired this one shot in order to be as unintrusive as possible. Afterwards, on the subway, I considered the stark contrast of the older, homeless lady compared to the anonymous young lady walking by her in the opposite direction. One with matted hair and dirty face, and the other looking as though she were well-to-do and returning from a day of shopping or headed to a party. Did the beautiful young rose in her garden of spring even ponder for a moment in passing that the tired, whitered lily sitting in front of a garbage bag could easily be here in years to come? Life and tomorrow hold a bittersweet and uncertain future for us all, and while the photo may be a sad reflection of any society, this shot has become another favorite. It reminds me that God has poured out his blessings on me and that life is anything but fair. My prayers are that someone rescues her from her misfortune.
When you encounter the homeless, please give without judging and have faith that your gift will work miracles with God's blessing. Hebrews 13: 1-2. "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares".