A man lay beaten, left for dead, his shattered, broken frame spoke of the kicks that brought him down, the glows that bruise and maim. The ones who might have offered help could give a reason why they left him lying in the road, they left him there to die. They spoke of fear, they passed him by, they left him in his pain; too busy or too self-absorbed to turn and look again. The ones who could have helped walked on, they passed and soon forgot, but one who knew the cost of love knelt down and shared his lot. When people challenge or deny our rights and break us down, when others leave us desolate and friends just laugh or frown; the foreigners that we reject, the ones we would despise, can bring the grace of God to bear, bring love into our lives. And when we see another's need and feel another's loss, God gives us courage and the strength, the memory of your cross; God give compassion, selfless care, and strip away our pride, then give us each the grace to love the ones we might deride.