What's Your Story?

Everyone has a story to tell.  I am not talking about a fable or an antecdote, but a real story. Everyone wants to be heard, to know that their words are not falling on deaf ears (or eyes).

Yesterday, I took my kids to eat at a local fast food restaurant after my son's soccer game.  Just before turning in the driveway, I noticed a man sitting up against a light post, holding a sign that read, "Disabled Vet, Need help, God Bless."  To tell the truth (as I feel I can be very candid here), I didn't pay much attention, mostly because that particular intersection is heavily populated with homeless, sign holding individuals looking for handouts.  I pulled into the parking lot, unloaded my 3 anxious kids and proceeded into the eatery.

We ordered our food and sat down to enjoy our fat laden fair when it hit me:  I am truly blessed.  Not only do I have the transportation and fuel to  get me to this establishment but I also have the money to purchase the food we are now consuming.  I paused and looked out the window toward the street, wondering if the man sitting by that light post was really as bad off as he appeared or if he was simply trying to scam the good hearted people who passed by him. 

We finished our lunch and I placed a few left overs in a bag and proceeded to load my happy brood back into our van.  As I sat there at the traffic light, waiting to turn, I decided to take advantage of an opportunity to teach my children (ages 2, 6 and10) about compassion for our fellow human beings and what it meant to be like Christ (although I know this is a pitiful example where there are far more important causes out there, we take what we can get).  I pulled a cheeseburger from the bag, rolled down my window and motioned to the man.  He was very tan, from sitting in the sun and his face was worn and dirty with several days worth of facial growth on it.  He was wearing an old pair of military style pants, shirt and light jacket, all dirty and very worn looking.  He walked with a cane, very stiffly and it looked like it took much effort to rise and walk the 5 feet to my window. 

As my children sat there, watching my every move with wide eyes and hanging on my every word, I thought this was what its all about.  A truly teachable moment.  He approached the window and I told him that I didn't have any spare change but I had some extra food and he was welcome to it if he liked.  Happily, he took it, smiled and said "God Bless", to which I replied, "No, may God bless you."  I meant it.  I was truly blessed in so many ways that it felt wrong to sit there, looking at this man and do nothing. 

As I sat there, explaining to my children why I did what I did, my daughter said, "Mom, look..."  The car in front of us rolled down their window and a hand with a few dollars reached toward the man.  My daughter, 10 years of wisdom behind her, asked why they gave the man money and we gave him food.  I explained that some people will give what they can while others choose to give nothing.  I then went on to explain that in order to be like Christ, we had to, in every situation we find ourselves in, ask the question "What Would Jesus Do?"  I explained further that helping people is what we are all called upon to do.  It makes us feel good to help but that should not be the reason why we do it. 

As the light turned green and we went on our way and after a 20-minute discussion on the incident, I felt good that they at least had a baseline understanding about what it means to be compassionate.  I wondered what his story was.  I wondered if he was in deed a disabled vet who needed help or a scam artist.  I wondered if he had fought in a war or only talked about it.  I wondered if he had a family, a home, a job, now or at one point in time.  I wondered a lot of things as I drove away.  It wasn't the first encounter like this that I have had and there have been a few times where I have talked to the person, learned their story and believe me, they were glad to have someone listen.

The next time you see a person in need, a person looking for a handout, take a few minutes to learn their story.  Count your blessings (the family you have, the clothes on your back, the roof over your head, the food in your stomach),  I know I do.  Always remember that at any given moment, that person on the street, holding the sign, taking money and food from total strangers, could be me or you.

I pray that you succeed in what you want, you want what you are given and that you are thankful through it all.