A few months ago I spontaneously picked up a flyer at the supermarket requesting volunteers at the local homeless shelter and called to offer my services.

Pulling into the parking lot of the shelter, I noticed a man standing outside smoking a cigarette. I remembered seeing him a few weeks before at the mall. He had been sitting outside the parking garage with a sign offering work for food. I thought to myself, if he wants to work, why not get a job like everyone else? I was annoyed at the twinge of guilt I felt for not handing him the spare change in my cup holder, but I quickly forgot him as I returned home to start dinner. Now here he was again, and I smiled awkwardly as I walked past. I realized that I was about to serve dinner to a man who I wouldn't have made eye contact with a week ago.

After the meal, I was sent to sort clothing with some of the shelter's temporary residents. Sure enough, the man was there, placing shirts in one pile, pants in another. As we worked, we started talking. I learned he had a little girl close to my daughter's age whom he missed very much. I was surprised to discover that we had grown up in the same city. We reminisced about a restaurant in that area that had been well known for its fried chicken.

As the evening ended, I realized I was sorry to finish our conversation. Over a pile of used clothing I had learned an unexpected lesson: if we take the time, we might find that we have more in common with those around us than we ever imagined.