Angels and Demons

Angels and Demons

Posted on 22. May, 2009 by Michael Scott in Love & Service

I am a resident of a special place originally referred to as La Ciudad de la Reina de los Angeles (The City of the Queen of the Angels). Nowadays, we refer to this city of angels simply as Los Angeles.

In terms of both Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the number of financially wealthy people living here, Los Angeles is one of the richest cities in the world. In terms of diversity in peoples and cultures, I can’t imagine a richer place. And yet despite all its wealth, the City of Angels is the homeless capital of the United States.

There are an estimated 40,144 homeless people living in the city of Los Angeles on any given night (or nearly 74,000 if you take all of L.A. County into consideration). According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, of these homeless people only 17% are living in some type of shelter or temporary housing; while the other 83% are sleeping in:

  • the streets,
  • alleys,
  • autos,
  • encampments,
  • overpasses,
  • doorways,
  • tents,
  • unconverted garages,
  • sheds, and
  • the like.

So I’ve been wondering to myself: how bad do other people’s realities have to be before I’m moved to do something? Even then, what can I do?

This week, on my first day as a volunteer at the Union Rescue Mission located in L.A.’s skid row, I sat in on a sermon by Minister Bobby Tillman. According to Minister Tillman, probably over 95% of the men served at this mission abuse alcohol and/or drugs (though this figure is estimated to be about 42% for L.A.’s entire homeless population).

Minister Tillman, who only 8 years before was himself homeless and receiving services at this very same mission, compared being under the influence of drugs and alcohol to being possessed by demonic spirits. According to him, the demons of drug and alcohol abuse are the main reasons why we see homelessness in the City of Angeles.

So for Minister Bobby Tillman, the fight against homelessness and substance abuse in Los Angeles is a spiritual battle. For me, it’s more simple than that. I have lived in this City of Angels for over 38 years. But only now have I been moved to find out and do more about the plight of many of my fellow Angelenos. So for me, it continues to be a battle against my own selfishness. Indeed, that demon that makes us insensitive and aloof to our brothers’ and sisters’ problems is the worst demon of them all.

Note: Photo used in this post is by discarted via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr.


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8 Responses to “Angels and Demons”

  1. Daphne @ Joyful Days

    22. May, 2009

    Hi Michael,

    At first I thought you were doing a review of the movie by the same title! Yes it’s sad that the richest cities host the poorest people. In fact I think the Grameen Bank has just established in New York, another ‘rich’ city, to offer micro-loans to the homeless and poor there.

    Good on you for deciding to do more. I read somewhere that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Hats off to you for doing something. You’re a good man!

    Daphne @ Joyful Days’s last blog post..Emptiness

    Reply to this comment

  2. Positively Present

    22. May, 2009

    What a great post. That’s so great that you were moved to do something. It’s not always easy to make a move and I think it’s great that you’re doing something. One person can always make a difference…

    Positively Present’s last blog post..looking to the past to find the present

    Reply to this comment

  3. Stephen - Rat Race Trap

    24. May, 2009

    Micheal, that was beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    “that demon that makes us insensitive and aloof to our brothers’ and sisters’ problems is the worst demon of them all.”

    I agree. The hard part is figuring out what to do that helps and doesn’t enable or encourage the continued problem. As an example, a good argument can be made that government (not private) welfare has increased the problem it was intended to solve.

    I think that your choice to take personal action that you feel is right is what we all need to do. What a difference we could make in the world.

    Stephen - Rat Race Trap’s last blog post..Blow the Lid Off Yourself by Thinking Big

    Reply to this comment

  4. David Cain

    25. May, 2009

    Beautiful post Michael.

    As Stephen said, the hard part is to know what really helps, in practical terms, but it goes without saying that compassion is the first step.

    Addiction is a problem for all of us, not just drug and alcohol abusers. We’re all prone to addiction to our lifestyles and comfort levels, and that can keep us from helping people or treating them as equals.

    David Cain’s last blog post..Do Something

    Reply to this comment

  5. Paul Maurice Martin

    26. May, 2009

    Great story. Often the best helpers for any given problem are people who’ve been there themselves.

    Reply to this comment

  6. Albert | UrbanMonk.Net

    05. Jun, 2009

    Agreed with the others, Mike. A very beautiful post indeed. I don’t know what else to say.

    Reply to this comment

  7. Derekp

    24. Jun, 2009

    I think i’ve seen this somewhere before…but it’s not bad at all

    Reply to this comment

  8. Farouk

    18. Jan, 2010

    i first thought you will be reviewing the movie but i found a brilliant article instead:)

    Reply to this comment

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