Minneapolis Public Library, too public?

Downtown Minneapolis Library

Having recently visited the downtown Minneapolis public library I was intrigued by an article in the StarTribune, Security getting tougher at downtown Minneapolis public library.  The library is something of a safe haven for homeless people, and a great way for them to access email and other features through the internet.  It is estimated between 300 - 400 homeless people visit the Central Library daily.

In reading comments posted on this article it seems many feel this beautiful library is no place for homeless. It is as if they should be sequestered out of sight in some dingy, third class quarters, more befitting of the growing numbers of people who are now jobless.

I'm pleased to have my tax dollars go to this wonderful community resource, that serves all. Here go I but by the grace of God.

Animals on Oahu

Koi with reflection in Japanese garden

I observed many feral animals on my hikes around the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Seems there were cats all around the campus.  Signs were posted instructing people not to feed them.  I'm guessing the the great abundance of birds, they find plenty of food on their own.  Though I didn't seem to find too many fat feral cats.

Feral cats

In addition to cats, there was also a great abundance of wild chickens in the hills north of the campus.  I was surprised that they were allowed to roam freely.  Despite high costs of living on the islands of Hawaii, these chickens haven't found their way to the dinner table. 

Sadly there are also many homeless people living in Hawaii.  One gentleman told me that some get one way tickets from the mainland to live in Hawaii.  Given the mild year round temperatures I can imagine how this could be a better location than a place like my home state of Minnesota, where freezing winter time temperatures can be deadly.

Feral cats and Spotted Dove

Cattle Egret

Feral Muscovy Duck

Feral Rooster

Feral Chicken

Recognizing and remembering the poor

“Go in Peace. Remember the poor.”  Those were the closing words at our worship service on Sunday.  Having lead the adult forum at church the previous Sunday these words put me in a state of holy unrest.  I couldn’t help but be reminded of our recent forum, where it was clear that for many, perhaps most of us, we had little or no contact with the poor. So, I pondered, perhaps it would be better proclaimed, “Go in peace. Get to know the poor.”

One of the attendees at the forum, a retired missionary well into his 80’s, commented on how he likes to take the city bus.  It puts him into contact with many folks he would not otherwise meet in the confines of his retirement community in Robbinsdale.  What an inspiration he was for the rest of us, who are often weary of going outside of our comfort zones.

Yesterday I rode my bike to get groceries at the store.  On the way home, with a backpack filled with milk, eggs, butter and salami I encountered a homeless person on the street corner.  In fact, it was someone about whom I had just read in an article, “Homelessness touches the suburbs”, just a week earlier. I was pleased to see an article that put a face on this gray bearded homeless man, Ken, living in our community.

I stopped to visit Ken.  I noted that I had seen his picture and story in the local newspaper.  He said he’d heard about it, but hadn’t seen a copy of the paper.  I reassured him that it was a nice article. He asked if I could please get him a copy.  I apologized, saying though I would try, my copy had just been picked up with recycling earlier in the day. He noted that he’s visiting with a social worker to get veterans benefits.  This might get him off the street.

Before I left him, Ken again suggested he would be appreciative if I could find him a copy of the article about him in the newspaper.  He then shared with me the location where he keeps the plastic five gallon pail that he sits on, and which contains his worldly goods. If I could get him a copy of the article, that's where he would like it delivered.

I provided a bit of financial support to Ken.  He expressed his heartfelt appreciation.  He said that he was then going to be heading out to get something to eat.

While biking home, just a few blocks down, I noticed a slim orange bag along the roadside.  It looked like the sort of bag that holds the local newspaper.  I wheeled around to check and see if by chance it was the most recent paper.  Sure enough, it was the one with a picture and story of my a new acquaintance, Ken, on the cover. 

I quickly road back to where he had been sitting.  Ken had already evacuated the site.  I found the bucket, to which he had given me directions earlier, and put my newly found copy of the paper inside.  

Go in Peace.  Get to know the poor.