Pumping gas on May 2, 2019, when a brother just released after 5 years in prison, asks for $25 to buy a shirt for a job interview and a hotel room to shower. My mood was unpleasant so I was trying to ignore him. However, he kept on and soon I became empathetic. Attempting to inspire hope, I gave him one of our furniture brochures, while saying that it wasn’t that long ago that I was in a similar situation.

When he saw my picture on the brochure, his eyes lit up as he said, “I know you, I know you! I saw you in a magazine, while in prison. I put your picture on my cell wall. One day my cellmate asked, “why do you have that man’s picture on the wall?” I said, “because I want to be just like him one day.”

This experience recharged me by reminding me of the impact that our work is having on others and the necessity to continue, despite the obstacles.