I did some people-watching on my shopping trip yesterday. What struck me was how often someone avoids eye contact or moves away from another person who doesn’t seem quite “normal.” I put myself in the avoider’s head, and this is what I came up with..
Who is that strange person? The smiley one who moves and talks slowly while cleaning the tables at the hot dog place. That scruffy-looking guy in the army fatigues asking for donations for veterans outside the grocery store. That strange old man sitting in Starbuck’s who keeps trying to talk to me when I’m in a hurry to get my morning coffee. The pregnant girl with all that black makeup—can she even be 15? Who are all those weirdos around me?
The answer is that they are people. Each is a human person with a story, a life, and, as such, each deserves dignity. Try having an actual conversation with them. You may be surprised at how interesting they are. Out in public like that, you’re certainly in no danger. The only risk you’re taking is learning that these people who seem weird can also be wonderful. In the process, you will have given them the dignity of being recognized as actual people.
