DON'T WE ALL?

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DON'T WE ALL?

Source:holy_trinity (AT) googl (DOT) com

 

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 keeps 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 me 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.

 

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 - these are things which only you can see

through a torn world.

 

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???