DON'T WE ALL

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

Have a great read!

Barry the Book

Knowledge is King
http://www.knowledgeisking.co.uk