I was headed to the UMW womens basketball game yesterday, and I saw an older fella maybe 65ish sitting next to a stop sign on William street at the intersection of route one and William. He was sitting down wearing tattered clothes, and an oversized jacket, homeless fella.. and holding a sign which said:
"Hold care in your hearts
Thanks very much
And God Bless!"
I parked my car, in a makeshift spot in the Goolrick Gymnasium parking lot and walked up to the old fella and asked how are you doing? "He looked at me suprised, like I was going to injure him, kinda caught up in words he just said, "I am fine, just making a living....." kind of embarrassed, he said "I live on the streets." The one thing that suprised me that he never asked me for anything, no money or food, seeing that he was homeless was a given, he even told me so, even his sign didn't ask for money or food, it simply stated "Hold care in your hearts."
This reminded me of many monks who had given up all their possesions and owned nothign but a begging bowl and maybe a piece of cloth for clothing. I reached out and asked him if it was okay If I could give him some money? He looked up and reluctantly said "well... yeah umm well anything helps ya know" I gave him a folded 50 dollar bill covered in ones so he couldnt see it yet. He thanked me very kindly and said "god bless you sir."
I asked him if he wanted to come in and watch the basketball game, "I go here to UMW and our womens team is pretty good, you should come in and watch the game if ya have time Michael" I walked back into Goolrick, but looking back I saw him get up, with his torn backpack and start walking towards the gym :)
Giving can go a long way, like a ripple in an ocean, one act may be soo small, but if you drop a pebble in the ocean it will make hundreds of ripples spreading outward and soothing others. I urge you to cause a ripple of kindness spanning time and hearts.
