On Compassion.

We are on our way to the store, our daily trip. Baby Cynthia is sitting comfortably in her stroller. Her blond hair is rustled by the wind. I admire her beauty as I stop at the crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. I notice everyone else waiting simultaneously averts their eyes. I look to see what they are avoiding. A man in tattered clothes, hair in dreadlocks has stopped a few feet away from us. Out of instinct I tighten my grip on the stroller. He peers down at Cynthia. He look down at my baby, no shame, no embarrassment from staring. His look is so intense, almost loving. Maybe it isn't even almost, it is loving or at least caring. There is something about the way he looked at her that makes me look at him. What do I see? A man, who for whatever reason has practically nothing. His clothes look like they have been attacked by scissors, thrown away and then the man found them and pulled them out of the trash. What did he do to deserve this? Did he commit a terrible crime? Turn to drugs and alcohol? Or could it be that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Forced into a set of unfortunate circumstances due to no fault of his own? By the way he is looking at my daughter it is hard for me to believe that he is a bad man. Without another thought I reach down into my purse. No I don't want lipstick, that is a handkerchief, address book. Oh my I need to organize my purse better. Ah there we are. I thrust my hand out to the man, this money should be his not mine. He hesitates, not accepting the dollar I have offered to him. Cynthia is goofing around in the stroller pulling the blanket over her head. He continues to look at her, still not reaching for the money. For an instant I am regretful of my action, have I offend him? No, it doesn't matter now, he needs this money more than me, he should take it. The light has turned and he still isn't taking it. I push the stroller slightly, to show my impatience, and reach out farther to him, showing him to take it. With a look of caution on he his face he reaches out and takes it from me. An unexpected rush goes through my body. I know I did the right thing.