That Maybe Enough

I was doing outreach today and came across a broken man. I think most of us have been broken before. But today, for whatever reason, it almost broke me. 

He is a kind man doing the best he can, with what he has left. {Which isn't much.} But I listened to him. I showed him respect. He told me of how people just looked at him like he was a gypsy. Like he has no right to be there. And today it got to me. Sure, I have been doing this work for decades. I have seen things most people shouldn't. I simply don't break. But today was different. Maybe I just needed to get these words out. 

I can't save him. But I can believe in him. And that maybe enough.

Yes, he made some really bad choice. But who hasn't. And why do we condemn those who we know nothing about? What is the price of judgement? Peace. Because you can never be at peace when you are looking down on another. You can have your illusion that we are separate. But we're not. You can ignore the problem. But you're still paying. 

Did you know that for every homeless person in your community, it cost your community about 32,000 every 2 years? Its true. Between incarceration, emergency shelter, hospital cost and addiction services, the community gets billed tens of thousands of dollars. Why? Because we judge the problem instead of trying to understand it. And from where I stand after 3 decades of service. There is one certainty that I have come up with. It takes a village. 

So on my death bed, I will remember the days like today. I saw him as a man. And although I can't save him. But I can believe in him. And that maybe enough.