When was the last time you did something nice for someone you didn't know?
Most of us shy away from such selfless acts of kindness. We are either too busy, too crunched for time, too broke…The list of excuses goes on. Many of us have never experienced first hand the struggles some people go through on a daily basis, so we just don't understand. We criticize those in need for asking for help, when we don't know anything about them or how they came to be in their current situation.
The truth is, if any of us were ever to end up in that same position, we would be begging for help just like many of those who we turn our noses up to.
I've lived at my current residence for over a year now and every day, on my way home from work, I get off the same exit ramp. When it isn't too cold, there is a homeless man who stands by the ramp at the intersection with a sign asking for help. I found myself always making excuses as to why I couldn't help this man; "I don't have enough money to feed myself right now", "I don't keep any cash on me", "The light is about to turn green", "I've got to get home". Truth is, I was throwing myself a pity party and not taking the time to realize that, even with all the horrible things I've been dealing with in my life, I was still better off than this man.
This past Friday was a beautiful day. I was driving home from the gym after work and I exited on the same ramp I always take when going home. There he was. The same man who stood out on that corner all Summer through the exhausting heat and all Fall through the cold rain. He stood there with his sign, looking at the long line of cars that sat there waiting on the light to turn green. On his sign, which was just a small piece of cardboard that likely came from a nearby dumpster, was written in black marker "aNyTHing hELPs".
At that moment, I began to think of all the excuses I had made previously when I had driven by this man on my way "home". This entire time, I've always had a place to go home to. This man has been homeless for over a year, and I've been too concerned with my own troubles to offer him any help. The joy in his voice when I offered him the only cash I had with me said it all; "Thank you. God bless you."
The most important task God has for us today may not be on our "to-do list". We may have to detour from our plans and reach out to someone in need of our help, love and compassion.
As I grow in life and become a better person, I keep learning more about myself along the way. This week I learned how important it is to reach out and help someone every chance we get. I challenge you just as I have challenged myself, to do something nice for a stranger every day. It might be something as little as smiling or saying "hello", or as big as giving money to someone in need or helping a stranded motorist change a tire.
Remember "aNyTHing hELPs"…
