I'm a professed people watcher. When I ride the bus or I'm at the store, I notice the people around me and what they appear to be doing. Just because the man who got on the bus is wearing well-worn jeans and a scruffy jersey that doesn't automatically tell you he's not someone to come in contact with. His clothes may be tattered but his face is clean. His hands show the signs of doing something that involves using them. His clothes may not only show wear but have stains on them that many times in the washer will no longer remove.You don't have to talk to him but you do need to show him the same respect you would give to the person who boards the bus behind him.
The second man is dressed in khaki trousers, with a nice polo shirt. He is clean shaved or he may have a manicured beard. His hands are squeaky clean and he is carrying laptop case. When this man gets on you tend to move over to allow room for him to sit down.Why didn't you make the same move when the first man got on? It's a simple explanation. He didn't present himself to be someone you wanted to be near. His clothes appeared to be dirty so therefore he was an indigent who deserved less from you.
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| Crowded Bus |
Give this person a chance. Open your heart. Realize that outward appearances don't make the man. It's how that man acts towards the other people on the bus that should make your decision for you. This very same man may find a seat and be aware of what is going on around him when someone with an obvious disability gets on. He may be the one to get up and offer his seat. While the well dressed man may be totally oblivious to this person who obviously needs a seat and stay seated in his own comfort.
Welcoming your neighbor is how you seek and find the rewards that God has for us in this world. As the title of this blog states, what goes around comes around.
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