I had been wondering where Steve was. I hadn’t seen him for a month. I see many of the homeless people again and again in the same spots at the same spots but Steve and his art were nowhere to be found. I was happy to see him this morning on my walk to work, surrounded again by this art, his pens and his other implements.
Human beings have a natural contempt for those we deem to be “free riders”: taking more while giving nothing in return. Scientists even has a term for this tendency: altruistic punishment. We feel contempt towards anyone who violates the social norms of reciprocity by taking without giving.
It’s easy to see why many people sneer when they see Steve and other human beings like him. It’s natural. We assume he’s taking from us while we toil away at our jobs, while he gives nothing. Before I met him, I thought the same.
Steve’s art is the most important thing in the world to him. He works on his art constantly because, as he said, “Maybe I’ll be somebody someday.” He hopes his talent will be discovered. I gently reminded him, “You’re already somebody.”
Steve has no roof over his head, no paid work, no possessions save those within five feet of him. All he has to give to the world is his art–which is everything to him. That’s all he has to offer the world: everything.