Last week as I came out of a Walgreens, a man was sitting on the ground and as is a normal occurrence today, asked me if I had any spare change. I replied with my most common response. “I don’t carry cash.” This was not untrue, but as I sat in my car contemplating what might have brought this man to be sitting outside this Walgreens with his head in his hand. As I weighed my response, I remembered that at some point I had put some change in an Altoid tin. As I sat there giving the Holy Spirit the quietness and opportunity to speak to my heart. In that moment, I knew that I was being urged to return to the man and hear his story for how and why he was in the situation he found himself in. As I looked in my glovebox for the tin with a small amount of change to give some to the man, I looked up to find that in my distraction and contemplation, the man was no longer sitting there on the sidewalk. I cannot even begin to express my dismay at having missed the opportunity to stop, look, listen, and just be a part of this man’s life.
Wow, Barbara, thank you for sharing this story. I have experienced similar situations before so I really felt your dismay at the end. It can be v hard to forgive oneself for missing opportunities like this but your dismay to me suggests that you had begun to really see him. If you hadn't, it wouldn't have hurt so much. Another thought that occurs to me is that, although you missed the chance to be part of this man's life, it sounds as though he will forever be a part of yours. I wonder if sometimes allowing ourselves to be taught (and helped) by the ones we feel we should be listening to/helping is part of how we stop, look and listen. I am pausing in my day to bless both you and this man.
Thank you! Yes, I am feeling like I have been privileged to be allowed the opportunity to be more aware and in tune with all lives and the world as I continue in this journey. Thank you so much for sharing these insights. I bought the book, The Remarkable Ordinary, and am beginning to read it today.
Last week as I came out of a Walgreens, a man was sitting on the ground and as is a normal occurrence today, asked me if I had any spare change. I replied with my most common response. “I don’t carry cash.” This was not untrue, but as I sat in my car contemplating what might have brought this man to be sitting outside this Walgreens with his head in his hand. As I weighed my response, I remembered that at some point I had put some change in an Altoid tin. As I sat there giving the Holy Spirit the quietness and opportunity to speak to my heart. In that moment, I knew that I was being urged to return to the man and hear his story for how and why he was in the situation he found himself in. As I looked in my glovebox for the tin with a small amount of change to give some to the man, I looked up to find that in my distraction and contemplation, the man was no longer sitting there on the sidewalk. I cannot even begin to express my dismay at having missed the opportunity to stop, look, listen, and just be a part of this man’s life.
Wow, Barbara, thank you for sharing this story. I have experienced similar situations before so I really felt your dismay at the end. It can be v hard to forgive oneself for missing opportunities like this but your dismay to me suggests that you had begun to really see him. If you hadn't, it wouldn't have hurt so much. Another thought that occurs to me is that, although you missed the chance to be part of this man's life, it sounds as though he will forever be a part of yours. I wonder if sometimes allowing ourselves to be taught (and helped) by the ones we feel we should be listening to/helping is part of how we stop, look and listen. I am pausing in my day to bless both you and this man.
Thank you! Yes, I am feeling like I have been privileged to be allowed the opportunity to be more aware and in tune with all lives and the world as I continue in this journey. Thank you so much for sharing these insights. I bought the book, The Remarkable Ordinary, and am beginning to read it today.