An Unexpected Lesson in Humanity

One day, while Lenja and I were enjoying breakfast at a local plant-based restaurant, we noticed a homeless man cradling a pigeon. He strolled up and down the street, having an animated conversation with the bird. His only possession was a black fabric bag into which he occasionally placed the bird, only to take it out again for another chat. This cycle repeated until we spotted him wandering past again, this time without his bag or feathered companion.

Suspecting the bird might be injured - wild birds don't typically allow intimate contact like this unless they're hurt - and worried about what the man had done with it, we finished our breakfast quickly and walked down the street in the direction the man had come. After some searching, we found the black bag abandoned against a tree, the bird lying nearby, still breathing but not moving. As I knelt to inspect it, I noticed a small bottle cap filled with water next to it.

We gently lifted the bird off the ground and headed to our car to take the sick animal to a vet who treated wild birds. On the way, we noticed the same man sitting on the roadside, muttering to himself. He was looking down at his tattered shoes.

"Hi," I began, gesturing towards where we found the bird. "Did you leave the bird there?"

"Yes," he answered. I waited for more, but he went silent, staring in the direction we had come from.

"Why did you have the bird?" I continued.

His face crumpled into a mask of sorrow. "It's sick," he said, his voice hoarse. "I tried helping. It won't drink."

When I first saw this man with the bird, my initial reaction was suspicion. However, seeing the worry etched in his red-rimmed eyes and the concern in his voice, I felt a wave of shame wash over me.

In South Africa, where we currently reside, unemployment is staggeringly high, leaving 69% of the populace concerned about the country's future. Unemployment significantly contributes to the crime rate, which ranks among the highest globally. Merely 27% of citizens trust the police force to protect them. This pervasive lack of trust hampers South Africa's pursuit of social cohesion. In this ideal, communities cooperate to improve everyone's living conditions. Creating a sense of community is challenging when there's a prevailing notion that most people are out for themselves.

I write this post to remind me not to lose sight of humanity's inherent goodness. While there are undoubtedly malicious individuals in the world, most of us are just trying to get by, to survive, to lead a fulfilling life. I will forever remember the man on the roadside who, despite having little more than the hope of donated meals from strangers, tried to assist a helpless creature he could have left to die.

This post also serves as a plea to you, dear reader, not to allow life's adversities to harden your heart and mind. It's easy to become numb to pervasive poverty and crime, desensitising ourselves towards others, expecting the worst. This mindset does not foster a just and caring society. We need open hearts, open minds, and a readiness to look beyond people's appearances or circumstances to who they are within.

The next time we encounter someone - human or animal - in need, let's make it a habit to extend a helping hand. Let's practice compassion, understanding and kindness. Let's encourage those around us to do the same; together, we can create a community that reflects those values.

Until next week,

Ric.

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