Where is Our Humanity?

If we no longer have empathy, we no longer choose to share our humanity, then what do we have?

Our inhumanity? 

Compassion and kindness are not frivolous words, they are tangible, real, and powerful. 

For all of us, the only important sentence from our life resume should state, “I am a human being here to help other human beings”.

Imagine if that were true everywhere, for all. 

No matter your economic status, your skin color, your birthplace, your ability or inability, your political belief, your sexual preference…imagine all these humans just being human. 

Imagine those that have, helping those that have not. 

To lend a hand not for a marketing ploy, not for a lesson to be taught, not for any other self serving reason except to help other human beings. 

Certainly it’s true that we are all different. 

Some of us have had incredible opportunities and never had to struggle, while others have amazing stories of resilience and courage in overcoming the odds. 

And although everyone’s story is different, every single one of them unique, we are all ultimately flesh and bone. 

We all have hearts that feel, we all have minds that can be changed. 

Personally, I have overcome many a challenge in my life. 

Some horrible, some inconsequential. 

Things such as being struck with a belt buckle for the simplicity of being a child. 

Or being forced to chew on a bar of soap and swallow the remnants. 

Or having the belief in myself questioned as worthless and useless. 

Or asking others for money to feed my brothers and I. 

Or of course, the always present shadow of cancer that whips up my daily life as it chooses. 

Yes, I have overcome. 

Not just one soul crushing moment, but all. 

Every moment. 

I have been confronted with my own mortality, and it has altered me, all for the better. 

That confrontation has cleared my mind from useless intent to focus on what matters, us all. 

I don’t look upon others and say, “If I did it, you should be able to do it as well.”

I don’t say, “Pull yourself up, that’s your responsibility.”

I don’t say, “Why should my money go to help them?”

I don’t say these things because my humanity will not allow it.

I know I am lucky. 

I have been fortunate enough to have found an inner strength to get me by, to have had enough cherished friends that cared, to have known others that would help. 

Without that community, without that strength, I would be a different person today. 

Possibly, I would be in jail, probably doing something illegal, maybe even dead. 

Those were real potential outcomes. 

Instead I look to share, to support, to nurture, to love. 

It’s not truly about what I did, it’s about what I do. 

I don’t wait for any government to use their resources, there will always be bureaucracy and misappropriation. 

Of course, this is true, not just in America, but everywhere. It’s up to individuals, it’s up to communities to carry the torch of compassion forward. 

There are many that would rather not pay taxes, nor give, as they have naively come to believe the propaganda spread by those with less heart, of fraud that those with needs supposedly commit. 

But ask yourself one question, even if fraud existed, what if your one dollar could save a hungry baby from starving?

What if your one dollar could shelter someone for the night?

What if your one dollar could save someone from a domestic murder? 

What if your one dollar could save someone’s life?

Anywhere. 

What if your one dollar could bring joy to even one person for just one day? 

Isn’t it worth it? 

For me, it is, truly. 

It’s not about what I have, it’s about what I can give, to other humans in need. 

Know this, I shall never place apathy, anger and mistrust over empathy, charity and hope.