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 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 the "Don't
bother me" times.
"I 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 men and women. We expect it
from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected
nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. But he just 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 at something beautiful, a
respite from daily chaos, that only you, through a torn world,
can see.
Maybe that 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 souls too comfortable in
themselves.
Or, just 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 Known to
God)
"The
righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the
wicked regardeth not to know
it."
Proverbs
29:7
