If you passed someone in need, in desperation, would you stop to help?
This video shows a 15-year-old homeless boy standing in 5 degrees Fahrenheit weather wearing only torn clothing and socks in New York City. He holds only a cardboard sign and an empty plastic bag.
People bundled in hats, coats, scarves and gloves pass him. Some look the other way, some stare and some seem conflicted about what to do. And yet, no one stops to help him.
Two hours pass with him on the street, and no one comes to his aid. He finally climbs inside his bag in an attempt to get some relief from the cold air.
Finally, a man walks up to him and starts to engage him with questions about his circumstances. He gives him his coat and tells him that he is also homeless. The man gives the boy money for some food. "We gotta look out for one another," he tells the boy. Read this article about giving.
This was, however, a social experiment. The people behind the experiment - who are the brothers of the boy - thank the homeless man and give him money and offer to take care of his other needs.
But, what if this wasn't an experiment? Why was it another homeless person who came to his aid and not one of the many people who passed by who have so much more to give?
Jesus Christ taught, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me...And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (See KJV Matthew 25.)
As humans, we need to take care of and look after one another, not wait for someone else to do it. We don't have to save the world, just one person at a time.
Here's another example of a huge display of humanity from another homeless man.