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 "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 keep 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. 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

 

Thank you for sharring this Travis.

 

Great message in your story. Thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks! I needed that.

 

Richard Cory
by Edwin Arlington Robinson, 1869-1935

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him;
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

 

very uplifting Rob

 

It wasn't supposed to be uplifting, charlie, it was supposed to be further proof of "Don't we all". Never judge a book by it's cover, who knows who is really well off and who isn't. Everyone needs a little help sometimes.

 

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely
no good."
- Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

 

dreamcation,

Surprised to see you posting here. Welcome and please continue. (We met at the S2ki headquarters meet.)

 

This is one of my favorite sayings that I try to incorporate in my life. Excellent!