Why Everyone Deserves A Chance

From about 2010 to 2014 I lived in San Antonio. I was perhaps maybe 20 or so. The area I lived in wasn't the best. Right next door to me lived a guy that I'll call Greg. Greg was a druggie. It was extremely obvious. When he wasn't hiding away in his house one could see him pacing up and down the street. He'd stop our neighbors if they were out and ask for spare change with the excuse that he needed money for "medicine". Everyone knew he was on drugs and for the most part, nobody ever gave him any money.

It was also quite rare for him to hold down a job for very long. Every so often he’d get himself a fairly decent paying job usually working in a warehouse or on the docks or something like that. But he spent all his money on drugs and more often than not the behavior he exhibited while on said drugs was usually what would get him fired.

He told me his life story once. I have sat down at a park bench and invited him over to share my extra Big Mac and there I learned where this guy was coming from. Parents kicked him out at 20 for smoking weed. Eventually, he transitioned from weed to heroin and somehow found himself in our unfortunate little neighborhood.

I did what I could to help him out whenever I could. I bought a car for around 500, put money into it to fix it up and make it run a bit better than it had before. And then when he was working and didn't have a ride of his own I drove him around until I was finished with the car I was working on and then sold it to him for as much as I bought it for. Ended up selling it for drug money and not long after quit his job.

But still, I persisted in trying to help him out. I never gave him money. I knew exactly what he would do with it. But while he was unemployed I bought him groceries and gave him rides whenever he needed it. I would invite him to come down with me to the local McDonald's or pizza place for a meal every so often. We got along well. He was a good kid all things considered. Just troubled. Too often our society likes to give up on the "troubled" And leave them on their downward Spiral 2 personal ruin. I felt bad for this kid and I was in a better position than him so I figured "Why not do what I could?" It should just come as a part of Being Human. Doing what we can for those less fortunate. And he wasn't always on drugs. It was an on-and-off thing. Keep get clean get himself a job And I drive him to work every day for several months until He fell right back into Using heroin. Then he gets fired or just straight-up stop going in all together Hey be right back where you started.

I could tell he wanted to get clean and live a functional life. I didn't think he ever would honestly. But I encouraged him nonetheless because you never know. Maybe sometimes all somebody needs are extra support and encouragement to get themselves going in the right direction.

None of the things I did for him were particularly outstanding but I did the best I could to at least try and help him out without enabling him necessarily. But eventually, I did decide To leave that neighborhood And move Somewhere A bit quieter.

Shortly after that, he moved out of that house. We kept in touch for maybe a couple of years but eventually, we lost contact. I can only hope the move Did some good for him. Haven't heard much from him since, But two years ago I found a letter In my mailbox. It was a Christmas card Addressed from him to me.

" Hey, I don't know if you Even still remember Me, But I'll never forget you. Believe it or not, I am doing a lot better now Can I have you to thank for that. Most people Wouldn't even Look twice at someone like me. But you did even when I seemed hopeless And I thank you for that. I'm not completely clean yet but I'm doing my best And I'm doing it With you in mind. You really were there for me at my lowest and I'm hoping that maybe someday you'll be able to see me at my highest. From the bottom of my heart thank you And merry Christmas."

Receiving that made it all worth it. To know that he was doing better, that he had not taken my kindness for granted. In fearing that, having our kindness taken for granted, too many of us allow ourselves to fear showing those in unfortunate circumstances love and compassion. But love shouldn't be something we treat as a finite resource, only to give to those seemingly most deserving. Love is infinite and everybody deserves the chance to feel it and potentially benefit from its warmth. Give everyone a chance. Everyone.