Most of us have experienced a sudden case of selective blindness upon encountering a homeless person.
Whether our inability to see them stems from discomfort at their individual situation or from the limits of our capacity to help them, it raises some interesting questions.
Is it possible that our desires for comfort, security and prosperity have outpaced our ability to show genuine charity to others?
The problem of homelessness can appear overwhelming. But the hostility with which the homeless are treated seems disproportionate.
A friend who has worked closely with the homeless in Salt Lake City made an interesting observation. He said:
“The single biggest thing that the homeless need is a friend. Almost more than money. More than food. They need to know, feel, and have the human connection with the other.”
This willingness to see others as human doesn’t require a certain level of financial status. However, it does require a degree of selflessness that isn’t conditional on someone living up to our expectations.
Many of the problems faced by the homeless are the result of bad choices.
Each of us has the capacity to make bad choices.
Some are simply more obvious than others. Any of us could find ourselves in dire conditions.
This is where applying the Golden Rule can help us affirm the value of each individual, regardless of their immediate circumstances.
What we ultimately receive in the most universal sense will look a lot like what we’re willing to give in the here and now.
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