Outside of CH, a homeless hospital in DC, sits a statue of the servant Jesus perched over a bowl to
wash the feet of his disciples. When I first came to CH, I thought it
was supposed to be a statue of a homeless man, because, well, that it
what this Jesus looks like.

Throughout the years, this statue has been a staple in the
neighborhood as kids have climbed over it and as it has scared people
into thinking a predator is lurking in the CH courtyard on their walk
home. Recently I have had two experiences with this statue. The first
occurred on a dark, rainy evening when I received a call that a drunk,
half-naked man was perched on the statue and refused to get off of it.
We first tried to convince him to go to a shelter for the night, but
finally had to call the police when he refused to move.

The second statue run-in came while supervising a patient taking a
smoke break. He earned himself supervised smoke breaks after allegedly
trading money for drugs and overdosing during his stay at the CH.
Slightly frustrated by having to leave the floor to watch someone
smoke, I stood by the statue as Mr. P. reached into his pocket and
pulled out a couple of pennies. He lopped them into bowl of the statue.
Confused, I asked, "Why are you throwing pennies into the bird bath?"

He replied, "I do it for the kids." He went on to explain that kids
come throughout the day and fish for pennies in Jesus' foot washing
bowl. He said that his favorite moment is when "the kids on the rope"
(a.k.a. the kids from the day care who walk in a line by hanging onto a
rope) run into the courtyard and fish for pennies. "There is nothin'
better than those kids on a rope, being kids, fishin' for pennies," he
said.

I don't know why the homeless Jesus statue draws people in--half-naked
people, kids on a rope, patients, and me. But when I think of CH, I
picture this silhouette crouched down, looking up toward heaven,
inviting people to gather and share a moment.