When we don’t really know, we make a guess based on our imagination, past experiences or wishful thinking. We make a guess that fits our immediate time and place. Many are just trivial assumptions, with no one being the wiser and some only embarrass us when we find out how 'off base' we are. For many of us our assumptions are just faulty.
Here is my obvious observation: We are a culture of critics. We make assumptions about people by the way they dress, their behavior, their social standing, by the car they drive, the food they eat or if they exercise. And around here IF they exercise, what kind of exercise? That sounds petty, doesn’t it? But let’s face it, it’s our cultural reality. Look deeper and you KNOW what you see isn’t always what you get.
Now if you had witnessed all or part of that scene, what assumptions might you have made?
I am going with the end of the story, being grateful that a man with his own mobility issues has the gift of serving and being in a wheelchair did not stop him from reaching out.