Dont We All

From the looks of him, the obvious was stated; he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times in a day when you feel generous but there are other times when you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of the "Don't want to be bothered" time for me."I hope he doesn't ask me for money," I whispered to myself. And He didn't. He came and sat on the curb in front of the parking garage, I looked at him closely, and from his appearance he didn't look like someone who had money to even afford a bus ride to God knows where he had come from. He kept starring at the car, his eyes moving to and fro. After a few minutes he finally spoke. "That's a very nice car," he said. Although he was ragged, he had an air of dignity woven around him. And this revelation startled me.

I said, "Thanks," and continued looking through the door anxiously waiting for my friends to come out so that I could be rid of him.He sat there quietly as if reading my thoughts and waiting for me to ask him to go away, yet I remained silent, waiting for the usually plea for money to come. The expected plea 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 eventually asked him. He answered me in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. Most times, we often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it often from those of higher learning and accomplishments. Today I was thought a lesson. I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand, but it never came. Rather he spoke three words that shook my body from my head to my toes."Don't we all?" he said. He inhaled deeply and continued."I need help. Maybe not for a bus fare or a place to sleep, but I need help. I reached into my wallet and gave him money not only enough for a bus fare but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words I stored somewhere deep inside my head and today those words still ring true. Living a fulfilled is not all about how much you have or how much you have accomplished. Because no matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. And also 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 may just be waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a revelation of something wonderful, a respite from certain daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.Maybe the man that stood beside me for that moment was just a homeless stranger wandering down the streets. Maybehe was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is greatest and wisestto minister to a soul that has been or is too comfortable in itself to notice other souls.Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, "Go minister to that man leaning on that car, for that man needs help."

"Don't We All?"