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 get out of 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 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 in front of the bus stop but 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 pretty car," he said.
He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly blond beard
kept more than his face warm.
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 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.
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 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 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
minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."
Don't we all?
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
Thanks to Sherry's Inspirational List
INSPIRATIONAL@ChristianEMailService.com
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