So this last Love Sandwich Day was really interesting for me. I think that the more I get to know these men and women on the streets and hear their stories, the more they become strong symbolic reflections of the times and society that we live in. Sure, you could choose to ignore these people on the streets, hiding behind your cynical excuses. God knows I have. But people can feel sincerity, and I've experienced a physical change in demeanor when you're doing the approaching. This last LS Day, the first three people that I approached said that they weren't hungry and didn't want a sandwich. Yeah, it was a little uncomfortable at first, but I think that's also a large part of Love Sandwich. Breaking past your own discomfort, in order to offer somebody a meal that they might not have otherwise been able to have. No matter what their story, "I just got out of prison." "I lost my job." "I'm just trying to get enough money for the bus.", we've all fallen on hard times, and it's up to us to help each other back up. I'm not trying to say that Love Sandwich is going to rid the world of poverty, I'm not that naive, but it's that brief moment of human interaction and care that feeds the soul and could give people the energy to live another day. I learned a really beautiful word the other day. The word is Ubuntu, and it's African for "I am because we are." I think that is a really great thing to keep in mind for life in general, but specifically when you're trying to find inspiration for Love Sandwich.
-Riley
