Monday 4 May 2009

Monday Morning Inspiration # 69

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.

To read other Monday Morning Inspiration click here.

12 comments:

Vasanthan said...

a good post about giving.
no matter which state we are , we are still in a position to help.

tulipspeaks said...

how i wish to help others.. but it's always me who ended up being exploited! :(


ammu.

Arv said...

would gladly do that if my company gives me time off :(

Aarthi said...

This reminds me of my older blogs.. The human in me has been wandering for a while.. dono whr :(

Unknown said...

It's a beautiful thought. And the more complex we get, the more we want, the more help we need.

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@Vasanthan

Yup! Helping each other is all in the mind and heart.

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@Tulipspeaks

Chill gal there are times like those as well. All one has to do is provide the right kind of help and see to it that one is not taken advantage of .

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@Arv

Probably you could render your help in office too, there might be people needing it :)

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@Aarthi

Oh gal it will get back :) Glad to have you at my space, will visit your blog soon :)

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@puresunshine

Thank you so much! It's always nive to keep life simple and not complicate issues.

Antony said...

Worth reading...Thanks for sharing...

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@Antony

My pleasure. Glad you liked it . Thanks for dropping into my space, will visit your blog soon. Do stay in touch!