But for the Grace of God

A Lesson in Compassion

When I worked at a homeless shelter, one of the most profound lessons I learned was this: but for the grace of God, that could be me. It’s easy to assume that homelessness only happens to a certain kind of person—someone who made bad choices or didn’t try hard enough. But the reality is far more complex. So many of the men and women who walked through our doors were talented, intelligent, and had once led successful lives. They weren’t so different from you or me.

A Split-Second That Changed Everything

I remember one man in particular. He had been a court reporter, sharp and well-spoken. He moved to Huntsville in his twenties because his wife was attending college there, studying to become an industrial engineer. They were building a future together. The day she graduated was supposed to be a celebration. That evening, as they were heading to dinner, he dropped his cigarette while driving. He leaned down to grab it, just for a second. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the side of the road, his head pounding, police and paramedics surrounding him. His car was crumpled against a guardrail. His wife was gone.

That moment changed his life forever. And he wasn’t the only one. I heard countless stories of people whose lives had unraveled in an instant—men and women who had lost spouses, children, or careers due to circumstances they never saw coming. Some battled addiction. Others suffered from untreated mental illness. Many simply never recovered from a tragedy that left them unable to piece their lives back together.

When Life Falls Apart

One man had been a business owner with a thriving career in finance. When his young daughter was diagnosed with cancer, he did what any loving father would do—he poured everything he had into her care. But when she passed away, the grief consumed him. He couldn’t focus at work, he made costly mistakes, and soon, he lost his job. The depression that followed was crippling. Unable to afford his mortgage, he lost his home. What started as a season of grief spiraled into years of struggle, until he found himself standing in line at the shelter, just trying to survive.

Seeing the Person, Not the Problem

These stories changed me. They changed the way I see the man standing on the street corner with a cardboard sign. They made me realize that we have no idea what brought a person to where they are today—unless we take the time to listen. And when we do, we often find that their story isn’t so different from our own.

We live in a world that moves too fast, that values productivity over people, and that often refuses to slow down long enough to see the suffering of others. But I believe one of the greatest things we can offer someone in crisis is the simple gift of recognition—to look them in the eyes and acknowledge their humanity. It doesn’t take much to show compassion. A kind word, a meal, or even a moment of conversation can remind someone that they are still seen, still valued, still worth saving.

Choose Grace

So, the next time you see someone struggling, choose grace. See them. Don’t judge them for where they are today—try to understand what got them there. Your kindness, your willingness to acknowledge their story, might be the first step toward them finding hope again.

Because in the end, none of us are as far from that place as we’d like to think. But for the grace of God, that could be me.