“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…Until you  climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” Harper Lee wrote this in his book To Kill a  Mockingbird, published in 1960. The character Atticus is trying to teach his son Scout that  empathy is the key to understanding others. 

I was confronted with this a few years ago. Growing up in Louisiana, we often went to New  Orleans. This one weekend we were invited to spend time at my sister and brother-in-law’s  apartment on Royal Street, just a block off of Bourbon. It was early morning and I was looking  for a market. My sister had run out of coffee and at 6:00 am, I was in desperate need. 

I decided to walk to Bourbon Street, the street that never sleeps, knowing that I would find  something open! Indeed I found a small market and was relieved to see a bag of coffee on the  shelf. As I waited in line to pay, I immediately noticed the young man in front of me.  

Barefoot with painted blue toenails and fingernails, he turned to glance at me. His dark blue  glitter eye shadow was sprinkled down his face as though at the end of a very long night. His  clothes were disheveled and even though it was winter, he was wearing blue satin tight shorts  with a sleeveless shirt just as tight. I am not at all proud to admit that in only a few seconds I  had already stamped a label on him. 

Almost to the front of the line, I quickly reached into my purse for my wallet and accidentally hit  his arm. His change spilled out from his hand and rolled across the floor. Before I could get out  “I’m so sorry,” he had already dropped to the floor in a panic. I could hear him saying, “I’ve got  to find it all. I only have exactly enough to pay for my drink and donut.”  

I quickly knelt down with him and began to collect nickels, dimes and pennies. He sat on the  floor frantically counting it when the cashier shouted “next.” He looked up in distress. At that  moment I saw something in his eyes that I can’t explain. It was as though by dropping this  change in the early morning hours he had reached the end of of his rope. 

I suddenly saw him through a different lens. He had a story that I didn’t know. I only saw the  outside facade but there was so much more about him to understand. In those seconds, I felt  God shower me with His grace and empathy. Looking at him and smiling, “I have lots of  change,” I said. “Please let me make up the difference.” He thanked me, finished the payment  and quickly walked out. Being next in line, I gave the cashier money for my coffee while deep  within asking God to forgive my quick judgment. 

Leaving the market, I was surprised to see him standing on just the other side of the door. He  looked at me and said, “thank you. I had a really bad night and I needed that kindness. Can I  hug you, you remind me of my mom. His words and demeanor became childlike.  “Of course,” I said. We hugged. “I will be praying for you that your day gets better.”  

As we turned to go off in opposite directions, I felt that I had just witnessed a God appointed and God anointed moment for both of us. I’ll never forget that young man and wonder where he  is today. That morning our lives collided, literally. God had something He wanted to give to  each of us through that encounter. In those few minutes, I was reminded that there is so much  more to others than what we see on the outside. We might see anger, bitterness, or fear.  Beyond that is a bigger story. I am so thankful that I had the privilege of meeting him that day.  

Atticus’ words ring loudly. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from  his point of view…Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” I didn’t have time that  morning, but I did get a glimpse of something more behind all that paint and glitter. 

Please share a story of an encounter you might have had of looking beyond the facade.