Why I say hello to the homeless

I moved from Georgia to Boston. In Georgia everyone talks to strangers, everyone says “hello.” In Boston no one talks to anyone except the old homeless guys on the street. It is sad to say that they actually friendlier than most of my professors. LOL! Every morning I pass a few homeless guys on my way to school. If they talk to me, as long as they are respectful, I always respond. The conversation usually goes like this:

Homeless Old Guy: How are you doing today
Me: Fine
Homeless Old Guy: That’s right you sho’ is fine! (chuckle)
Me: (chuckle chuckle as I keep walking to school)

I know some of my friends think I am weird for talking to them. However, the way I feel is that it is pretty bad to lose your home, it is probably worse to lose your family but I think the worse thing that we can lose is our humanity. All day long people walk by homeless people on the street. They don’t make eye contact. They don’t speak to them. People essentially act like the homeless guys on the street are invisible, like they don’t even exist. You never know when something like a smile or a simple “hello” will brighten someone’s day. I am reminded of this verse:

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Next time you see someone homeless give them a smile, an encouraging word, a sandwich or a dollar. You never know when your small showing of love will make a difference in someone’s life.