My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. John 10:27-29

There is a strange phenomenon occurring in the streets. Well, it is strange for us but in reality it is the same cycle which has been occurring for many decades. It still perturbs our souls, regardless. On Wednesday, we sat and observed a new immigration of children to the streets. There must have been at least twenty children if not more. Many appeared to be under the age of ten years. They bear the signs that they have escaped as a group from somewhere; a veteran teen told us that they have escaped from an orphanage. I am not sure if the word “escaped” is appropriate. No one ever comes looking for them. They have just abandoned a place where they were neglected. Now they have the sense of being freed from all rules and regulations. They are unsure what to make of their newfound status. The streets are never an easy place for anyone, much less for young children. They have to prove themselves. They have decided to become relentless thieves. It has become some sort of game. After all, they are still children. They are unaware of many things. They live in an immature world where everything is play. The problem is they might not ever mature. The thrill and excitement of getting away with something is a worse addiction than any hard drugs. Many who hold much wealth and power have never overcome this pernicious vice of being able to get away with something immoral.

No one says anything to them. No one can say anything to them. They don’t respect anyone. These children are a terror for now. Thankfully, they are smart enough to leave some people alone and we are included in this group. Not that there was a lack of trying. We are still strangers to them. One of them attempted to steal something from me but immediately, the veteran teens stepped in and warned them that we are off limits. I wasn’t too offended, just a little. Nevertheless it is part of their learning process. A long time ago, there was a time a young boy just like them who stole my Uno game. Eventually, he became one of our favorite boys and we even took him to the zoo on his birthday. These children will gradually calm down but for the moment, they are a terror.

We weren’t the only ones watching these unruly newcomers. Daniel and many of the older teens were watching them too. Daniel and his brothers were just like them about 8 years ago. Daniel was a preteen when he came to live in the streets. He will be twenty in June. Just like these kids, he came in a group of twenty or more. Now, some are in prison. Some have gone home. One has gone into hiding. Many still remain in the streets. Amazingly, none from that group have passed away. We are grateful for this. Young children immigrate to the streets of the center in groups, usually after they meet in an orphanage or even in the juvenile detention center. The city center is a tough place to be alone. Our children have learned from a very young age that there is safety in numbers. I asked Daniel if he wanted to play a game. He told me that he was in a pensive mood. He has been a little serious recently.

It is not necessary to ask too many questions. Daniel communicates effectively with his body and facial expressions. He has been feeling lost and disoriented lately. Maybe the presence of these newcomers have made him realize that he is stuck in this cycle of emptiness and abandonment. Deep down inside he hears a voice beckoning him to leave it. Daniel shared once that he feels trapped and helpless and yet he knows that there is a better way. “It is strength that I lack.” He claims. Daniel told me that he can’t do much today. He needs to think.

“The wise man (sic) knows how to run his life so that contemplation is possible.” Gabriel Marcel

It is strange that we heard several people express this same sentiment from beyond the streets. We had a string of bad luck with our dentists. Almost all our previous ones have left the city or retired. Hopefully, it has nothing to do with us. Not too long ago, I walked by this old rundown building and saw a sign for dentist. The dentist was old as the building. I liked him but he had the strange habit which many dentists have. He likes to chat while stuffing all kinds of apparatus in my mouth. He shared that he was feeling a little lost and disillusioned with the way things are. He belongs to the Jewish community and plans to leave this country for Israel in a few years time. He is not far turning eighty. His intent to move is not due to his religious conviction. He said that his heart aches to see what has happening to his beloved country where he spent all his life and raised his family. It has not gotten worse. It has just never gotten better. There was a profound sadness in his voice as he said this. Soon after we left the dentist clinic as we were crossing the streets, we and a woman also crossing were almost run down by a car whose driver completely ignored our presence and existence. This is quite common today. One would think that there is a moratorium on traffic rules in this city. As usual, it is the pedestrians who suffer this lawlessness. Pedestrians always pay for the incompetence and apathy of those in power. There is lawlessness in every aspect of society and the pedestrians of life have become accustomed to it. The woman remarked with profound sadness in her voice that we are slowly slipping into hopelessness and darkness. These are not your common political conversations. Needless to say there is never a lack of people who are willing to share their political opinions and the solutions which they have figured out from the comfort of their armchairs. No. These two people shared their sadness without pretending that they have the solution. The truth is they don’t see any hope in the near or distant future. They just see a cycle of hopelessness and abandonment. This is not just a problem of the situation of the homeless children and teens. It is something everywhere and most likely it has always been there. Perhaps, the situation in streets is the reality of society reflected without its lies and falsehoods.

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant, who walks in darkness and has no light, yet trusts in the name of the Lord
 and relies upon his God? But all of you are kindlers of fire, lighters of firebrands. Walk in the flame of your fire, and among the brands that you have kindled! This is what you shall have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment. Isaiah 50: 10-11

There are too many people who offer false hopes and even more who listen to them. They invite us to draw close to the fire that they have started and claim that it is the Light. Eventually, their sparks will burn and bruise our souls if we are fortunate. In most cases, they ruin our souls. However, there are some who wait for the voice of the Shepherd. These are different. They are not complaining about the way things are. They see how things are and they feel lost and abandoned. They are waiting in the darkness for a voice. However, not any voice will do. There are many who promise this or that. They distract us from the Truth. They claim to be defenders of the Truth but nothing could be further away from this. There is darkness which encompasses us. We are not exempt from it. We cannot say that we are carrying the torch to lead the children and teens away from this cycle of darkness and more darkness. We don’t hold the patent on the Shepherd’s voice. He speaks when He is ready. For now, He prepares our souls to listen. Part of this involves us not being distracted by the lies and false fires. The new batch of kids in the streets are being seduced with false sense of belonging and security. Eventually, some or maybe just one of them will be like Daniel and contemplate on the futility of it all. We have a simple role in this process. We wait in the darkness with these sheep and remind them that eventually His voice will be heard in our souls. This is our hope and joy in this world which promotes cycles of abandonment and suffering.