Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition – “The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect”

I’m standing outside the homeless drop in center tonight talking to a young lady sitting on the ground who is bawling her eyes out. It’s very quiet outside except for her crying. She is diagnosed with bi-polar disorder which is part of it but she is also telling me that she can’t take it anymore. She hasn’t slept in three and a half nights and has been looking for a place to stay for 4 months.

As I’m standing there trying to think of something brilliant or at least somewhat useful to say, not one, but two of those large van like limousines comes to a stop across the street. The kind of limos where you can see people through the windows dancing and singing, neon lights, hear the blaring, upbeat music.

For a moment the night is lit up with sound and lights and drowns out the girl’s crying. I look over to see her reaction to the limos. There is none.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t believe that people shouldn’t celebrate and have fun while part of the world (a good part of the world) suffers. I also love to celebrate, have fun, sing, etc.

My only point, if there is one, is the juxtaposition I witnessed tonight. It made me pause for a moment and think. The world is beautiful but it is also a strange and painful place at times.

I just wanted to share that.