I live in a mostly rural area. The village I live in is surrounded by nothing more than farmland and expansive country. There are probably more cows than people and more fields than cars. So going to the city is a rare occasion for me and people who don’t work in the city. It is an ordeal and usually requires an all-day trip with at least one stop at a restaurant and for coffee. However, whenever I go to a major city one thing stands out to me more than any other—the striking amount of homeless in these cities. These people who are at the end of their rope and they have no logical response to their situation other than finding a corner on a sidewalk and ask for money.

I dread asking for money from friends and my family so just imagine having to ask a stranger. They have no one in most cases and may be inflicted with an array of mental diseases and familial problems. The truth is we have no idea how they got there. Yes, mistakes may have been made along the way, and people do things they will regret in desperate situations, but that may not have been the whole story maybe that person simply “drew the short straw.”

This isn’t about whether the homeless deserve it or not, or whether they are just lazy and are not seeking employment. In fact, I am a big believer in the Free Market and I am against taxes almost completely. That doesn’t mean that I can’t be compassionate and recognize those in lower positions other than myself. It is about helping people and giving what we have and negating our cultures unfortunate obsession with excess. We eat in excess, we buy in excess, we live in excess, and we have so much to give. Yet, we fill our lives with meaningless objects that we say are important but or more likely remedies for our boredom. Regardless of political orientation and opinion—I think it is important that we pay attention to people in this state.

Understand the other side—or at least try. Helping people is not conditional. If we call ourselves decent human beings than we should be giving whatever we can. We are all brothers and live in the same world—besides our monetary division, what makes the homeless and less fortunate so different that isn’t related to how much money we have. Again I am not endorsing welfare and forced compassion. The truth is there is no easy solution other than voluntarily giving of ourselves and resources

How can this be done? We there are charities everywhere. It is the holidays—no doubt that nearly every store you walk into will have a Salvation Army change bucket. Donate old clothes, charities such as Goodwill and Volunteers of America are always accepting this we no longer need. Set aside a budget, sponsor a child, give a portion of your income to those who might need it more. Lastly, buy a homeless person a meal, offer them coffee. Show them that you recognize their situation that you care about them. In a world where a definite answer is non-existent, compassion may be the most logical solution.