Athens City Streets

Athens city streets are chaotic, gritty, constantly in stop-start-stop motion, and not for the timid. During a brief pause at a snarled intersection I looked to my left and caught a glimpse of an old man below propped against a light post in the middle of the chaos. He was dirty, thin as a rail, and looked like he had been on the street for a while. He cradled his face against his knees, indifferent to movement around him, and held out a hand hoping for someone passing to drop a coin or two. I immediately wondered what set of circumstances left him begging on streets in Greece? Addiction, financial ruin, missed opportunity, family death, government turmoil, poor life choices. Pick one, or two, and we might find ourselves in a similar situation.

The air conditioned luxury coach we were riding in suddenly lurched forward into Athens traffic and the scene disappeared from view. I see a lot of people like the old man above during international travels. Much more than I like. The images stay with me.

We’re blessed in the US. Just in case I didn’t say a quiet thank you today….

Dutch