The Field of Onions

You’d be forgiven for not knowing where in Lisbon the Field of Onions is. Yet, most tourists end up there at some time or other, usually looking for a parking space so they can visit the Alfama, the Cathedral and the Castelo Sao Jorge. Or they stumble down to this open space after getting lost in the narrow alleyway of the Alfama.

Campo das Cebolas. The Field of Onions. Along the riverfront just before you come to Praça de Comercio, it’s an unprepossessing space full of parking lots, tramways and tired looking palm trees. Oh, yes, and the odd down-and-out, sitting on the pavement, pulling on a home made cigarette. For this is also one of those meeting points for the homeless of the city. And last night we were there and took part in an amazing dinner. Tables were set out on the pavement. Against the backdrop of buses and taxis passing by, and under the intermittent light of a few flickering street lamps, there was a buzz of animated conversation, as diners enjoyed rice and beans with shrimps, accompanied by orange juice, dessert and coffee. It was a dinner organised for the homeless by a Christian grassroots organisation called “Serve the City” that is seeking to make a difference in various cities across Europe.

What struck me, in talking with Antonio, Ze, Fernando and Nuno, how alive, alert and well informed these guys were. Here’s a guy who maybe finds you a vacant parking spot in a narrow street with a wave of his battered hat, and you give him a euro for his services. Society sees him (or doesn’t as the case him be) as worthless, dross of humanity, clogging up the unemployment statistics, and not worth caring about. And I’m afraid we do the same a lot of the time. But we’re called to be different, to have different values and not look with the world’s perspective. In the Kingdom every one has value. And it’s not about the money.

So it was good, but also with a bit of a sense of shame that we found ourselves interacting and listening to their stories. An accountant in the Cape verde Islands who hasn’t been able to find his way in life since coming to Lisbon. A young guy born and brought up in the shadow of the Castle, but who fell into drug abuse at an early age. Jesus loved them enough to die for them. We need to too.