18th January, 2023
I was parked in front of the mall waiting for my wife.
Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would
consider a bum.
From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no
money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times
that you just don’t want to be bothered. This was one of those “don’t
want to be bothered times.”
“I hope he doesn’t ask me for any money,” I thought.
He didn’t.
He came and sat on the curb but he didn’t look
like he could have enough money even for a bite.
After a few minutes he spoke.
“That’s a very pretty car.”
He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him.
I just said, “thanks,”
He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never
came.
As the silence between us widened something inside said, “ask him if
he needs any help.”
I was sure that he would say “yes” but I held true to the inner voice.
“Do you need any help?” I asked.
He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget.
We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments
I expected nothing but an
outstretched grimy hand but He spoke the three words that shook me.
“Don’t we all?” he said.
I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum
in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun.
Don’t we all?
I needed help.
Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I
needed help.
I reached in my wallet and gave him enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day.
Those three little words still ring true.
No matter how much you have,
no matter how much you have accomplished,
you need help too.
No matter how little you
have,
no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or
a place to sleep, you can give help.
Even if it’s just a compliment, you can give that.
You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all.
They are waiting on you to give them what they don’t have.
A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.
Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets.
Maybe he was more than that.
Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.
Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, “go to that man sitting in the car, that man needs help.”
Don’t we all?
Lets give help & take help and stay blessed forever.