It's interesting to me to confront my prejudices and biases. I am a solidly shallow person with more negative nuances than anyone can name (although a committee of people who think they know me might be able to come up with a list.) A few short years ago, I decided to volunteer to sit in at chapel services on Monday nights at the local homeless mission. It is a Christian organization that provides comprehensive service to homeless men.
I admit to being nervous as I was buzzed into the facility and headed for the gym where the services were held at 6:50 in the evening. I looked around and saw about eighty or ninety rough-looking men waiting for the speaker to show up. There were men of all ages, black and white. As I grabbed a plastic chair and set it near the front, I half-expected to be asked for money, verbally abused, or held hostage with a switchblade at my throat. Maybe all at once. None of those things have ever happened to me. I learned that many of the men had substance abuse issues, others had never been arrested, and still others were there because of broken families and financial ruin.
Now, I like going to the mission on Monday evenings. Speakers are clear and not pushy about God. The men are attentive and respectful, and when I hang around afterwards, I get a chance to have my prejudices and biases blown to bits. And so I have to ask myself: What other misperceptions do I entertain, maybe even without realizing it? I'll try not to think about it. Hope I fail at that.
