"Why don't these bums just get a job?!" For a long time, that was my sentiment about people I saw begging on the street for money. Without compassion, I was convinced that if I did give them money, they would just use it for booze or drugs. So instead I just shook my head in disgust and walked on by.

After many years of this unkind, uncaring attitude, I found myself working in a large inner-city church and having to meet with people on the streets every day as they dropped by to have their various needs met. Eventually I found that by getting to know them and their often tragic stories-many of which are included in this memoir-they ministered to me as much as I ministered to them, changing my heart.