Love isn’t Scarce: Throw Kindness Around Like Confetti

Logan has one of those rare energies that makes anyone feel safe. Almost as though he has been through some things and could never judge someone else for anything because he has faced his own pain. Even though he is fully aware of all the bad in the world he has taken it upon himself to believe in the good day after day. Maybe because he himself throws love and kindness around like confetti. 

During our call, our main topic of conversation regarded this unhoused person he shared two conversations with. While working at a restaurant in Omaha, Logan saw this man outside. The man who was in his 40’s or 50’s explained that everything he owned was on his bike. Logan being the kind soul he is said they had left over food and would be happy to share some with him he just wanted to know what his preferences were. Though the man was very grateful for his asking, he said he would take anything. Logan brought him a sandwich and some potato salad. While the man ate and Logan found the restaurant fairly empty, he partook in a 45 minute conversation with this man. Not because of his situation but because the conversation just flowed. He began sharing that his family used to own a burger place up the road and that he was once a traveling salesman. When COVID hit, he lost his job, house, and custody of his kids. He even spent some time in jail. Logan just listened. Then after their talk, he gave him some ice cream because it was hot outside. 

Logan never thought he would see this man again. But a few months later, he came by the restaurant. This time very frustrated because he lent something to someone and they took advantage of him. Logan explained to him that it didn’t matter. It says more about the other person and he should feel good that he did all he could to help. Then he gave him another sandwich and potato salad. 

Later on, Logan shared that growing up he had a distant relationship with his father. This led to him keeping a distance from other people for a while because it’s all he knew. Because of this, he knew the feeling of deep and empty loneliness. It wasn’t until his freshman year of high school that he discovered the beauty in community through participating in DND. After he shared this detail about his life with me, it made sense. He is kind to everyone he comes in contact with because he knows what it feels like to feel lonely, excluded, and ignored. He would never wish that on anyone. 

When I asked Logan my favorite question, “What is your definition of love?” His answer was, “Love is not something that is scarce. There is no limit. So don’t pick and choose. We don’t lose anything by being kind.” It kills him to see the villainization of unhoused people. We should be able to see the humanity within them and realize we could be in that same situation ourselves. Further when I asked him where he learned how to love, his response was something I had never heard before. “Superman,” he said. His father, who was not really in his life growing up, loved comic books and was actually working on writing his own. How beautiful that even though he did not have the best relationship with his father, his father was still able to offer him love in some form. Our conversation ended with Logan sharing that he even wanted to read what his dad wrote and finish writing it some day. 

This story is a perfect example of unconditional love. Can we love those who have little to offer us? Can we see them as ourselves? Can we offer them understanding rather than judgment? If we put ourselves in someone else’s shoes, would we move how they move? Perhaps there is no such thing as bad people in this world. Just people doing what they can to survive. Yes, people do bad things and can be held accountable for such things. However, what does it do when we go overboard and treat others with hostility? We become the bad person. 

THAT'S LOVE.

Shana Schoone writes “The Heart of Omaha,” a weekly column celebrating all the ways love is shown in the O.