Dev Does Life Lessons: Humility

I was very humbled today in downtown Denver.

I went with a few friends so one could get his first tattoo. We decided to take the longer way back to the bus station and explore downtown a little bit. I always try to give a little cash to the homeless people I see on the streets, particularly now that my room and food are paid for so anything I earn is really "extra."

We came up to a person holding a sign. (They were bundled up and had a neutral voice and a unisex name, so I'll refer to them as "they" through this rather than risk assuming their gender and getting it wrong.) I handed them a dollar, the only small change I had, then asked if they needed anything else, if I could do anything else for them. I felt compelled somehow by this person, and wanted to help in any way that I could.

They replied, very sheepishly, "I'm kinda hungry." When I asked what they liked to eat in the area they responded that they liked the burritos from Taco Bell. I promised I'd be right back.

I walked into the shop intending to order a burrito or two. Again, something compelled me and instead I ordered the $10 box of bean burritos (ten come in the box) and one larger one. I figured this would feed the person for at least a day or two, possibly more.

When we got back, there was another homeless person beside the first. I handed the shocked pair the bags of burritos and the free cup of water that I'd gotten. I expected a "thank you," but got so much more than that:

They both thanked me profusely, then the first person said, "This will feed all of us."

That generosity astounded me. It's one thing for me--who grew up without much money but who has never truly gone without--to hand a homeless person a dollar or buy them a meal, then go about my day not really any worse for wear. But this person had nothing but what was in the small bag they sat beside them. No money to buy themselves food, made to swallow pride and ask for help (if you've never had to do it, believe me when I say it's not easy). And yet instead of saying, "This will feed me for awhile," they said, "this will feed all of us."

All of us.

I don't know how many people they were referring to, how they got there, what their stories are. But I do know that this was one of the most amazing displays of altruism that I've seen. To have next to nothing, but share what you do have among those whose need equals yours. It can be so tempting, when you don't have all you need or want (or even when you do), to hoard whatever you collect.

I asked the names of the pair, shook their hands. I can't explain what it felt like; I was shaken. I'm near tears just recounting the event. I could tell that the food, the contact meant a lot to them by their words and actions, but it couldn't have meant as much to them as it did to me. For under $15, I was truly truly touched by another human being. I'm resolving to do my best to be more like them--to remember to put the needs of others above my own. Mahatma Gandhi said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

I resolved when I joined Americorps that if I could touch one person's life, the ten-month project would be more than worth it. I didn't realize that, especially so soon after arriving here, I'd be the one who was so strongly moved.

It was a lesson well learned.