Christmas guest on Skid Row

Christmas 2020, We all had a hard time with the Pandemic, isolation and loss. My family was ill with Covid 19, I wasn’t able to visit them as I normally would. New friends (IG: usapastorblue, ameliarayno & muslimahsoninja) put together an amazing week long Christmas cookout, with gifts, Christmas movies and most importantly LOVE. @Usapastorblue is the glue that keeps everything together. @ameliarayno makes it happen. @muslimahsoninja moved out of skid row, but takes the bus 2 hours there and back to serve the community. All week people were contributing to the party, from friends online to residents on Skid Row, they contributed something. With Covid 19 and all the precautions coming with it, boundaries and health awareness isn’t always easy to follow. I did my best to keep Covid 19 protocals, wearing my masks & keeping appropriate social distance as I could. A good time was had by most in attendance. “Meeting people where they’re at” isn’t always easy, as we come from different backgrounds and beliefs as to what service looks like. But if the intent is Love and Service, that makes it work.

Truth is, if my family was available, I would’ve been in Skid Row anyway. Without family available, it brought a sense of normalcy, even outside on the street. Being welcomed in isn’t easy in this community, not everyone can just jump into Skid Row, trust does have to be gained, understandably so. It’s not daisies and sunflowers, there is suffering and struggle constantly. Through the struggle, this week Love and Service reigned. I’ve seen many of my friends isolated, with every privilege you could imagine, suffering. On these streets, in this location, if only for a moment, I witnessed joy, laughter and giving from people who have one millionth, of what the wealthy attain. So if you take anything from my small experience, please give love & generosity to your community and beyond. Don’t think of donation & service as a selfless act, its not donating to “them” but contributing to “US” as fellow humans trying to live laugh and love.

The Country is Reeling

Nick Levin