A while back, my father and I were driving home from Wal-Mart when we spotted a homeless man standing by the side of the road. He had a thick gray beard, and wore a dirty green jacket. Diligently, he was holding a cardboard sign asking for help. As we drove closer, I tried to avoid eye contact, hoping dad would drive on by. But a sudden jolt threw me forward as the screech of our breaks of our car made us come to a stop. Gently winding down his manual window, my father took out his wallet and handed the man a $20 bill. No questions asked. The homeless man was overcome with joy with this act of generosity, and I saw tears flow down his dirty face, as if cleansing the pain of being alone.

The rest of the ride home, I sat in silence, dumbstruck in awe. For many years I had volunteered for various organizations which helped the underprivileged, but actual social interactions with the poor were limited, as I felt "too above" to fraternize with individuals who I believed were inferior. Perhaps what my father had done had taught me to realize that the homeless should not be viewed as slackers or addicts, but beautiful human beings. Indeed, in the face of rampant materialism, some choose this life intentionally, and are able to own their brokenness while living in community. This witness challenged my worldview, where I became less worried about keeping up with the latest fashion trends to look stylish and privileged, but instead live a humble life to better advocate for the needy.

Some people believe that it is not ethical to be compassionate, viewing those who exhibit such characteristics as either effeminate or misinformed. But everyone deserves a platform to be heard fairly, and this is best done through genuine relational building rather than financial contribution. Granted, honing in the ability to care for others will at times challenge your comfort zone, but it is a life skill needed for the real world. When we are able to come together in love, we can break down decades old barriers and bring about healing and restoration in community.