One evening
I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had
just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife
to finish work. 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 times that you
just don't want to be bothered. This was one of the "Don't
want to be bothered" times! "Hope he doesn't ask
me for money," I thought. He didn't. He came and sat
on the curb in front of the bus stop and he didn't look
like he could have enough money to even ride the bus.
After a
few minutes he spoke. "That's a very nice car,"
he said. He was ragged, but had an air of dignity around
him.
I said
"Thanks," and continued wiping off my car.
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 accomplishments. I expect it from those
of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing
but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke three words that
shook me. "Don't we all?" he said.
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 not only
enough for bus fare but 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 of 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 himself.
Maybe God
looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum and
then said, "Go minister to that man cleaning the car,
that man needs help."
DON'T
WE ALL?
