What I learned from a homeless person.
I can not count how many times the sight of seeing a homeless person sleeping on the street or begging for change has saddened my heart. The hopelessness in their eyes, the longing for things I take for granted, the loss of pride as they hold up signs asking for any kind of help from strangers. We all see it, but for most of us, the busyness of our own lives and concerns make it easier to not allow ourselves to think beyond the thought of "That is so unfortunate." And I, too, have been guilty of the same apathy.
But the more I grow up and experience the ebb and flow of life the more I am faced with one question, one question I'd ask if ever given the opportunity to ask a homeless person. And that being, "How did you get here?" And not in any way to be condescending but rather because I realize at the very core of who we are, people everywhere are truly the same. We all have the same needs of security, shelter and food. The same fears of lost, pain, and death. How then, I'd ask did your fears become a lifestyle and your basic needs for survival become a dream?
I often envision many different answers. Possibly this person was born into a poverty stricken environment and knows no different than that way of life. Or perhaps drugs and addiction ate away at their hopes and future and they just can't seem to find a remedy to break the vicious cycle. Or maybe just 6 months ago they were in my shoes and somehow or another wrong choices and unfortunate times made them leave behind all things they once called, "home".
Regardless of the path it took to get there, I as a member of the human race must realize that I am no greater than even them. And the same mistakes and unfortunates that fell on them could possibly one day be mine.
And that goes for everyone, the truth is in spite of financial status or level of "success" we feel we have attained, everything could be gone in a moment. And the ones we thought we were so above all of a sudden are looking down on us. Any and everything we have we ought to be humbled by because we are all the alike, every moment living on that thin line of having and losing it all. We are no better than those who have less than us, we are not invincible to their pain. This truth also applies to all areas in life, not just homelessness. Any adverse circumstance you see another person in, can in a blink of an eye, be your burden to carry. The tables in life can change so quickly with or without or our permission. And when we think we are superior to anyone in any area we must realize and remember that truth.