Yesterday after work I saw a youngish gentleman with a sign that just said "Homeless and Ashamed". What really got me, though, was his whole posture - it was clear the sign was the painful truth. Everything about him spoke of despair.

I handed him one of my gift bags, and when he looked up at me in surprise, I just said with all the authentic conviction I could muster, "There's no need for shame, sir. Good luck to you." I don't know that he was in a place where he could hear it, but it was what I could offer at the time.