By S. Maisie Ng
Growing up in Hong Kong, I often admired the people who worked in the downtown area. I would see them in expensive clothes, carrying designer handbags, moving quickly through the streets. They looked so successful and important to me. I dreamed of becoming one of them— working in the city, dressed well, looking confident and professional.
As I got older, I had many different jobs, but none of them were in the downtown area I had admired so much. Then, in 2021, when I joined the community, I began working at Catholic Charities in Pittsburgh. I started with a program that supported pregnant women and new parents. That winter, I went to work at a homeless warming center downtown.
At first, I was afraid. I had always felt uncomfortable around homeless people. I didn’t even know how to look them in the eye. How could I possibly work with them face-to-face?
In the face of fear and uncertainty, I turned to prayer. I asked God to help me see every person the way He does—with mercy, compassion, and love. I asked Him to soften my heart.
God answered me in an unexpected way. One day, I accidentally locked myself out of my house. I had no money, no phone, and no way to get to work. I felt helpless. So, I walked to a nearby church and asked strangers for help to pay for the bus. That short experience gave me a glimpse of what it’s like to be in need, relying on the kindness of others. It was humbling. And it changed something in me.
When I returned to the warming center, I found myself more open. I started talking with the people who came in. I listened to their stories. I prayed with them. Slowly, the fear I had disappeared. I even began hugging people on the street, something I never imagined I could do before. These were no longer strangers to me. They were brothers and sisters in Christ.
As I was reflecting on this change, these words from Jesus came to mind: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) It was then I realized that I had been serving not just people, but Christ Himself — in His most humble disguise.
I soon realized that my childhood dream had come true. I was working downtown, just not in the way I had imagined. I was not dressed in designer clothes or working in a tall office building. Instead, I was fulfilling a greater purpose, serving others with love, dignity, and compassion.
Through this journey, God showed me that true success is not found in fashion or wealth, but in love, service, and faith. I let go of my attachment to material things, and I discovered a deeper kind of beauty, that of human connection, of walking with others in their suffering, and of finding Jesus in the most unexpected places.
I realize now that I was never really chasing a job but searching for meaning. And in God’s great mercy, He led me to it, one step at a time. Even though I live in a small town today, I still find myself working in the heart of the city.
