Recently I watched a documentary about a group of men who were trying to connect with men who are in prison. Some of the prisoners were serving life sentences. From where would they find hope?

It struck me as I listened to these men tell stories of their loneliness in isolation, that there was no one who cared about them. One man spoke of his suicidal ideations.

I wonder how many people who aren’t in prison feel the same way. They have no one to check on them or invite them out. They live among us yet we never see them.

Let’s keep this in mind when we interact with strangers. Be kind to them. They might be withdrawn from the world. Your kindness might be their last, best hope…