What's important here was when I got up to the Mcdonald's window, this man started approaching me. Walked up, I saw him cross in front of my car and then he stood there, toward the right. I noticed the holes that riddled his dirtied clothes and the scraggly hair on his face. There he was, just 4 to 5 feet away from my comfortable seat in my car. He was patient. He didn't force anything, just existed slowly and patiently... standing there. Me? In my elitist posture I sat aloof to his world, refusing to even make eye contact. I'd look out in front, adjust my radio and peer into the empty McDonalds window. My order was being made, I knew for fucks nothing exciting was gonna happen in that god damn window. But I kept staring away, avoiding with whatever shame I would've experienced by affording eye contact with that poor soul. I'm such a fucking coward.

What was I scared of? I wasn't even going to give him the dignity to talk to me? To request a meager bit of sustenance? The very implicit request I ask of my loving mother in my warm and happy house? He was in one of the most desperate of human conditions, in a state to ask someone else for food to live. Was I not going to even give him the respect to allow him to beg from me?

I got my order. The worker passed the chicken from that McDonalds window, through my car, and into the man's eyes.

I had a lapse, in that moment. If you can call it that. In reality, I was just a cruel and heartless member of this species. I, for those brief moments, was a dark blemish in the futile struggle that is man.

And then what happened? He asked the man at the window for some food. The worker immediately, without hesitation, went back and grabbed him some nuggets. No matter if this was customary or habitual, it was his reaction to helping another human—automatic. He didn't need to take a moment to figure out the logistics or legality or any stupid prejudiced shit that would get in the way of helping out another person.

The worst part of it all? It was raining.

Luckily, I gained my senses quickly after, turned my car around, and flagged him down to give him some of my food. He told me with gratitude and a smile, "man.. angels do exist" ... How beautiful. And I don't mean in some performative bullshit way, I mean in how such a little act toward any soul in your life can impart such a positive response. More so, a random human, as all deserve such dignity.

There is no amount of explanation to explain how two realities of my life coexisted within this dark soul. On the weekends, I would distribute food and water to these same kind hearted community members. Brothers and sisters that I really thought I believed they were equal. But this moment showed me what insidious, inhumane prejudice still harbor in my own depths. Of his most honest and sincere dignity, I was evil enough to deprive him—actively and automatically. We're all a member of a single human race. In this one, it matters not who finishes first. Your slice is not taken from my pie. What matters is that we all make it to the end.

Do anything in this world. But just please never.... never forget your humanity, your community...as I did.

Each day is a testament to our very own imperfections as much to our capacity to grow. We might recoil into a selfish worldview if we don't fight for every last moment against it.