Constant Reminders

Sometimes it’s really obvious. A man by the side of the road with crutches, who looks like he hasn’t changed his clothes in a year or two.

But other times it’s a little more subtle.

Subtle or obvious, it’s inescapable herein Mexico City.

I did a quick run to the grocery store to get some food for the week. An older man with a moustache started to bag my groceries. Yes, they still do that here. It gives someone a job. But they only get tips.

For whatever reason, the man left and an old woman took his place. Slightly stocky, curly grey hair. Probably somebody’s grandma, maybe somebody’s great-grandma.

I’m not a proponent of everyone retiring on the beach at 65, but knowing that many old women have to work long hours on their feet just so their family can survive — . No, in many cases this is not a woman looking for a challenge and a little extra cash – it’s life and death.

Out in the parking lot, more people are given jobs through tips. These are men and women who help you back your car out, using whistles and voices. They’re known as “viene-vienes” (come-comes) because that’s one thing they shout out when it’s save to leave your parking space.

I could tell this particular viene-viene was checking out my Canadian license plate, and he spoke to me in English (pretty good English, actually, which isn’t common around here), asking if I had any jobs available. I answered in Spanish (just by habit), and told him I really didn’t know of anything.

I wasn’t very good at answering such an unexpected question off the top of my head. But it frustrated me again – there are so few jobs available here, anywhere. Once you reach 35, your chances aren’t great. And it’s sad that he would ask a foreigner with a foreign license plate, and perhaps not a well-connected Mexican business-man. Canadians, Americans, can you imagine someone in your country seeking out an immigrant to ask for a job?

Many years ago we started to make more of an intentional effort to build into our lives help for the poor. But the job always remains bigger than one family, or one church.

I’m thankful for the constant reminders, whether subtle or blatant. The push to ask – do I really need what I’m buying? Can our community of believers do more to help? Can I respond in more helpful ways?

The constant tension and push out of comfort and ease is a good thing. But even then, it will either lead to a callous insensitivity, or compassion. Jesus modeled the latter.