Jesus said to the Pharisees, “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.” Luke 16:19-21

Often when I am out and about, I encounter people who look the other way, stare at their feet, or keep their eyes on their phones. They avoid eye contact. They avoid greeting me. I generally say hello anyway. Sometimes I get a response, which is such a pleasure.

It gets me to think: Who are the people I avoid, fail to notice, ignore, or am indifferent to? What make me afraid to be aware of others and their needs?

Today I will remember that all people are precious. I will love my neighbor by taking notice of everyone I encounter and speaking respectfully to them. I will make a special effort to lift up those who are in need.