Don't We All?
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 "I 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 had 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 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. 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.
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