'The Walking Man' has a sad story
Marc Stewart wrote a piece in the Saturday, May 6 Local section entitled, “We can’t be too busy to help.”
He wrote of a man he coined “The Walking Man.” I am sure there are hundreds if not thousands of Coeur d’Alene and Hayden, even Post Falls residents who have seen this man around town. I have seen him in all seasons in all types of weather. He walks around most times without shirt or shoes.
I have had several personal interactions with “The Walking Man.” When asked his name he identified himself as Brian. I have worked at the UGM Center for Women and Children, here in town, 10 to 15 hours a week as a volunteer for the last 2½ years. Brian has come to our drive-through donation door multiple times since I have been there. The very first time I saw him on the streets over three years ago, my heart twisted in wonder and sympathy as he walked barefoot in a plastic trash bag for a shirt in mid-winter. I was not able to stop but did the “quick prayer” for the poor street man.
To my surprise, the next time I saw him was at the door of CWC. His feet were swollen, blood caked and filthy. He had a 5-day-old beard, his head hair nearly shaved to bald. I was able to provide Brian that day with clean sweat pants, socks, roomy sneakers, a shirt, and a bag of healthy food and bottled water. When offered a ride to the UGM men’s shelter in Spokane, Brian did a hasty retreat. Only two days later I saw Brian walking along Neider without shirt or shoes in cut-off sweat pants. I was stunned. I talked with my boss and friend at CWC who told me he had attempted to help Brian as well. The previous winter he had given Brian a winter parka from our donations. He was surprised to see Brian on the streets just a few days later without the jacket.
Last summer Brian showed up at our door again, this time while two nice ladies from town were bringing in their donations. He interrupted us, demanded shoes and shirt for his homeless condition and frankly, intimidated the ladies by his appearance and behavior. I was able to ask Brian to wait his turn until I finished with the donors. I asked him in a gentle way what he had done with the shoes and pants we had given him previously. As another donor pulled up he became belligerent and cursed me with the typical hand gesture. After a discussion with my boss, we called the Cd’A police to ask what our response should be, what is the appropriate protocol? At UGM, our entire purpose is to help the homeless, the poor, the addicted, those who have hit the wall and desperately need Christ-like compassion. How do you help someone who evidently doesn’t truly want the help he needs to get off the streets? The local law enforcement folks here in town are well aware of “The Walking Man.” Unless and until he becomes malicious and truly dangerous, there is not much they can do.
Just three days before Mr. Stewart’s heart-wrenching story, Brian came to our door again. He was dressed in tattered cut-off sweat pants and nothing else. He had a 5-day beard and nearly shaved head. He looked exactly as he did those three years ago. He did not seem to recognize me. His demand/plea was the same, showing me his battered feet. Again, I gently asked him if I could call our men’s facility for him and ... what happened to the clothing and shoes we had previously provided? He spun around with a muffled curse and disappeared down the street, once again. I was ready to help with a safe place to go, a bag of food and shoes, but wanted an honest answer to my sincere question.
UGM is not the first rescue shelter and out-reach I have worked for. Since the 1980s I have had the opportunity to serve with like-minded people with a heart for the homeless, addicted and rejected. The sad, gut-wrenching fact is, there are those who choose to live on the streets. I believe they are emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically ill. I believe that for true healing, they ultimately must become so sick of their life, they “surrender” and allow others to truly love them and help them in their personal, very difficult journey back to health. I have seen it happen many times over the years. I have also been slain with heartache as some have come so close to healing and then give up and return to the streets.
To Mr. Stewart and hopefully the many others who were moved by the story of “The Walking Man,” I ask you to consider getting involved in whatever way you can with any one of the many outreach/rescue ministries in our communities from Spokane to Wallace. There are many men and women out there who are ready, who desire to get help and change. It feels good for a while to give a handout and a smile and say a quick prayer for a street person in immediate need. There is a much greater reward when you help and see a broken soul become a new person over time as they “surrender” to true love.
- • •
Jon Keith Walton is a Coeur d’Alene resident.