It had been a very busy week – and I had worked up until the last second.  I was walking very purposely from my office to my car.  It was a path I had taken thousands of times.  About a half block away, there was a man talking to himself and pulling something behind him.  I was mindful of his presence as he approached.

As I waited to cross the street – he passed behind me, said hello and gave me a compliment.  I said thank you and told him to have a good weekend.  He went on his way,  then he suddenly stopped and turned around.  He said  “Thank you for not acting like I don’t exist, God bless you.” That is when I noticed he was pulling a suitcase, with a small duffel bag on top, with a tote bag in his other hand.

I’m certain he was homeless and everything he owned was in those bags.  I am equally certain that he is often ignored as if he’s invisible.

Many times we believe we are justified to ignore a homeless person – and it’s rooted in fear.  Fear for our safety, fear that they will pan-handle and ask us for money, fear that we will get into a conversation we can’t get out of – etc. etc.  The truth is – kindness and common courtesy does not put you at risk.

He is someone’s father, grandfather, uncle, or son.  He is important to someone in this world – and for a moment, he can be important to us.  Just acknowledging him with a kind word is where we can start.

©Bloom in Every Garden 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.