Preconceived Notions

The scene: A dark alleyway near a run down drug store in what many consider to be "the hood." Large amounts of traffic pass by as drivers work their way towards the interstate and back to the suburbs. A driver glances through the window of his car at a stop light and sees a man standing in the alleyway next to a fancy car with expensive rims. The unidentified man is handing cash through the tinted car window and, apparently, receiving something in return. The traffic light turns green and the driver on his way home from work wonders why he has to travel through such an area as this. He shakes his head in disgust, answers his now ringing cell phone, and begins his evening routine without giving the scenario another thought.
The reality: The unidentified man is a man in his thirties with a pregnant wife at home. This man, a Christian, is in this exact spot every month. As a believer in solidarity with the poor, the benefits of relocating to a community in need, and living simply, the man takes the bus to and from work every day. The man lives just around the corner from the run down drug store. The dealer, whose girlfriend happens to receive a discounted buss pass from her job, is supplying this man with a bus pass that neither the dealer nor the girlfriend would ever use. Next month, the man is making a dinner date out of the whole exchange and having the dealer over to his house in "the hood" for an opportunity to relax and converse.
It always comes as a pleasant surprise to learn about others that are seeking justice, peace, and positive change in the city. What this driver on his way home from work assumed in this scenario was completely false. It makes me wonder how many assumptions and preconceived notions I may have when observing others in and around our neighborhood. I hope and pray that my thoughts will not turn into judgments and that my attitude will never hide the true beauty that may lie beneath the surface of any situation.