Anyway
This year my friend Mauricio made a movie that had a homeless man that when people tried to help him he would laugh and be mean to them and tell them he didn’t need their stupid help. The homeless character was dying of cancer and it was his way of dealing with it.
A lot of times people don’t stop and help homeless people out of fear, or because they don’t want to enable “bad” behavior, or because they don’t have time. I understand all of these reasons and am grown up enough to realize these are valid concerns. Still I frequently have a burden on my heart for homeless people so when I am feeling brave I step out of my world and step into theirs.
Such was the case today when I stopped to talk to someone and share with them some food I had. The scene however reminded me a lot of Mauricio’s movie, ending with me having to walk away with the guy ranting about people that have treated him badly because nothing in his life was due to his own choices.
I was a little shaken by this experience but understanding, because there is a reason there are stereotypes and because I remembered this poem written by Kent Keith, that was a favorite of Mother Theresa.
ANYWAY:
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight.
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis
it is between you and God;
it was never between you and them anyway.
