How I Help Today

For the past two weeks, I’ve had guests staying at my apartment. A couple of homeless young men I know are in a pinch, and I decided to help them out. My apartment is small, and they are in my way. They are in my bathroom more than I am, and usually before I can get in there, so I often have to wait. They drink coffee like it’s going out of style, spooning so much sugar into each cup; it’s nauseating to behold. They leave their things laying about. I cook for them, and clean up after them, endlessly it seems.  Dishes and laundry have doubled. To be fair, they have brought take and bake pizza home to help..
My guests are  utter nuisances, and having them here is against subsidized housing rules, and property rules. We are pushing it. I can’t throw them out, though. I wouldn’t feel good about that, in spite of the risks to myself and my home security that I am taking now. I would rather chance getting kicked out of my own apartment than refuse those who need my help. If the shit hits the fan, I’ll deal with that when and if it happens.
There are at least two more homeless young men that I could take in. If they asked me, I could not refuse. I couldn’t turn any of them away. I cannot deny my fellow human beings their fair share of my compassion, often to my detriment. If I were to be unkind, and turn my head to anyone in need, especially friends, I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror.

Why? Why do I stick my neck out for others? Because it’s right. Because helping other people makes me feel great. Because I hope that if the roles were reversed, there would be many who would reach out and help me, lift me up to level ground, where I can get my bearings, then get things back together.
Help others. Help homeless youth today. Help them every day.
---RGR