Do you believe a look can shake a soul?

Genevieve’s gentle blue eyes spoke of hunger, fear about when the next meal would come, and gratitude for the plate I put before her.

Something I love about my college is the activities we do with the people that make a difference. The Mater Ecclesiae College service projectsare a way to reach out to the community. So far, whenever I participate in them, I receive more than I give.

A few months back, my friends and I pulled up to a small building in inner city Providence. We piled out of the van laughing and talking. A sign hanging on the door caught my attention. “McCora house”. As I entered the homeless shelter, I took a quick glance at the masses of people and grew quiet. I could hardly breathe. Eventually, I smiled and did my best to meet as many of them as I could.

The volunteers in the dining room served the day’s visitors as if they were kings and queens. Each person, regardless of dress and manner was escorted to his or her table and brought a hot plate. “How are you doing today sir? Impressed, I grabbed some gloves and an apron myself and got to work busing tables and serving drinks. It was then that I met Genevieve.

Genevieve had big blue eyes and a sweet smile. I gave her a plate of food, and she immediately began eating. Would she see food again today? Between bites, those eyes fixed on mine and her smile spoke of gratitude. Time stopped. I looked at all the faces around me, starving both for food and for love. The tears came. “Why God!” I prayed. “Why are there people who have nothing? Why do I have everything I could ever want? Why do I never need to worry about food or cold or love? It’s not fair.”

His answer came in the form of a song,

“I the Lord of Sea and Sky, I have heard my people cry

All who dwell in dark and sin, my hand will save

I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright

Who will bear my light to them, whom shall I send?”

“I know their suffering and pain, and I carry them. I send you to be my hands, feet and heart. Show them how much I love them.”

Genevieve was still smiling as she ate at her table. “God” I prayed, “make me a little more like her.” I walked on to the next person waiting for a hot meal.

Genevieve will never know how much she touched me. Nor will she ever know how much her smile taught me. If she could smile amidst a life of utter need, if she could be grateful for every meal Providence provided for her, then I could too. I left McCora house satisfied. Once again, I received more than I gave. My day was brighter. I knew I couldn’t stop all the poverty in the world. I knew I couldn’t stop the need for homeless shelters. But every time I remember Genevieve’s smile, I know that God is aware of our suffering and he is holding us close. God doesn’t always take away our sufferings, but he helps us to get through them. He carries us on his shoulders and “holds us in the palm of his hand.” Is. 40:39

Why do we chase riches and forget about people? Why do we find it so easy to focus on the masses instead of the individual? Pope Benedict once said, “Man needs a look of love.” He is crying out to be fed; not just with food, but also with love. When I think of Genevieve, I remember her eyes that were crying out for something more than food. How many people are like Genevieve? Like Mother Teresa, let us make the world a better place by loving one person at a time.