Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Lead by example....


As I, turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat, this wind is blowin’ my mind.  I see the kids in the street with not enough to eat.  Who am I to be blind?  Pretending not to see their needs.  
- Michael Jackson, Man in the Mirror



Tonight I have seen the worst of humanity and I chose not to go down that road.  I can’t.  I won’t.  Not now.  Not ever.  I chose to lead by example.  It is my belief that everyone is someone.   Everyone you come into contact with is someone’s child, parent, cousin, or sibling.  Even if he has no living relatives we still have the same Father.  It is my belief that my Father would not only want me to love another, He would expect nothing less from me.  Truth be told I would expect nothing less from myself.  To not honor another human being is a downright shame, and I could not live with myself if I blindly closed an eye to another man’s struggle.  It is a quality that is sometimes my worst quality, yet more often than not it is my best quality. 

Tonight I went to Chipotle.  Chipotle is one of my favorite restaurants, and even though the Reluctant Farmer and I are supposed to be watching what we eat I had an unwavering desire to eat there.  Moreover I had a desire to eat at a Chipotle that was 20 minutes farther from my usual restaurant.  Still, I felt compelled to eat at this particular Chipotle and I listened to my inner voice.  I place my order, nearly grabbed a seat inside, but at the last minute realized that there was one seat left on the patio.  (It has been unseasonably warm here for the last few days and I wanted to enjoy my last few nice days of the season by eating outside.)  I was facing the road, eating, when I heard a young lady next to me say to her boyfriend, “Eww!  He is so scary and disgusting!”  I looked up to see a very dirty, badly manicured man coming towards the patio.  This man was filthy.  He had jeans with holes all over them, a filthy sweatshirt on, a sleeping bag tucked under his arm, and a very small knapsack with him.  The beard that he was sporting was overgrown and his hair long and stringy.  There was no question he was homeless.  He had something tucked under his sweatshirt that he was protecting, and I will admit for a minute my initial thought was:  “I hope he is not wielding a gun.”  With all eyes on him, everyone watched this man look for a place to sit down.  He made eye contact with me, and I instantly recognized this man as my brother.  We have the same Father, and there was no way I could stand by while everyone else watched him.  I did what I hoped mankind would do but did not, and I lead by example. 

I greeted this man and told him hello.  He looked back at me and said hello back with a smile and twinkle in his eye that would light up even the darkest of nights.  The light in his eye was refreshing and pure, and for I minute I will admit I was captivated by this man.  I didn't think twice before asking this man to sit down and eat dinner with me.  You could tell he was uncomfortable at first.  Our conversation went a little like this:

Me:  Would you like to sit down and eat with me?

Him:  I am not used to anyone asking me to join them for dinner.  I’m afraid I don’t smell very good, but I would love to eat with you.

Me:  (With all eyes on me….)  I just worked 8 hours and sweated up a storm!   I don’t smell too great myself!  Can I buy you dinner?

Him:  “I brought my own dinner!”  He excitedly whispers: “I have a cheeseburger from McDonald's!”  He produced a very beat up McDonald’s bag from under his sweatshirt.  (It turns out he was wielding a cheeseburger, not a gun!) 

We have a fairly normal conversation at dinner although sometimes it is not easy to understand what he says and it doesn't make much sense.  He explains he is from California, and that he hitchhiked here to Ohio a few months ago.  He has a great sense of humor, and this brilliant light in his eyes.  He explains that he always tries to find the good in people, and that he knows that there was a reason we met tonight.  I know he is right.  I can feel it in my heart.  I went next door to Burger King and bought him a large gift card so he could eat many meals and get a warm cup of coffee several times a day.  When I brought it back to him, he grinned from ear to ear.  (I had to explain how a gift card worked but he then understood.)  I also had this terrible thought that he was going to be cold if he stayed around here much longer so I gave him a blanket that I keep in my car for emergencies (This was emergent!) and I also gave him my coat so he would be warm and water resistant.  At the end of this exchange we hugged and parted ways, and as I drove away the tears flowed down my face.  I cried for a man I didn't know before a chance meeting tonight.  I cried for a man that was an outcast amongst other fellow human beings, and I cried for the people that could have made a difference in the life of someone else by simply offering a seat or a friendly greeting.  At what point has society turned so callous, that we would judge a fellow man in need rather than sit with him for a meal?  I cried because my life was changed tonight by a man named Ron.  I didn't know him before tonight, but I know now that he is my brother.



This post was shared on my favorite blog hops:









10 comments:

  1. You are an exceptional person.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! He was pretty exceptional too, and I am so blessed that I was able to meet him!

      Delete
    2. This story brought tears to my eyes. I try very hard to live my life emitting compassion and love and I get very frustrated at how others can walk thru life in a fog and not notice those in need. You are a true angel.

      Delete
  2. Emily, Thank You for sharing this inspiring experience with us. What a loving and compassionate person you are and thank you for setting a wonderful example.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Matthew 25:
    35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

    37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

    40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Emily,
    Thank you for sharing your story....it is a powerful reminder of how we need to treat others....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello! I’m stopping in to invite you to join us at the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week!
    http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/11/clever-chicks-blog-hop-7-country-craft.html

    I hope to see you there!
    Cheers!
    Kathy
    The Chicken Chick

    ReplyDelete
  6. Same thing has happened here to me. A hungry man on a bike with not many clothes and nothing to eat. The librarian and I have clothed him and fed him and update his needs when we see him. Other familes in town do not have enough food so we are trying to start a community garden for those who need food. I commend your goodness, your instincts and your persistance. The communty garden story is on my little Vermont blog (October) at www.tailgait.blogspot.com. Come visit when you have time.

    ReplyDelete