#1081  The Bum
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You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats 
those who can do nothing for him. 
James D. Miles



Everyone respects and helps the millionaire, the famous, the 
boss, those with beauty and brains. 

What about the bum on the street?

This is a real story. It happened to me, the writer of 
MountainWings.com.

I was parked in front of the church cleaning out my Jeep. 
I was waiting on someone.

Coming my way from across the street was what society would 
consider a bum. 
From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, 
and no money. 
There are times when you feel generous but there are other times 
that you just don't want to be bothered.

This was one of those "don't want to be bothered times."

"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought.

He didn't. 

He came and sat on the wall in front of the bus stop to wait on 
the bus.

After a few minutes he spoke.

"That's a very pretty Jeep," he said.

He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His 
scraggly blond beard keep more than his face warm. I said, 
"thanks," and continued cleaning out the Jeep.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money 
never came.

As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask 
him if he needs any help."

I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true to the inner 
voice.

"Do you need any help?" I asked.

He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall 
never forget.

We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it 
from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected 
nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. 

He spoke the three words that shook me.

"Don't we all?" he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a 
bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve 
gauge shotgun.

Don't we all?

I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but 
I needed help.

I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus 
fare, but enough to take a cab anywhere in the city and get food 
and shelter for the day.

Those three little words still ring true.

No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have 
accomplished, you need help too.

No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with 
problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give 
help.

Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that.

You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it 
all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. 
A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something 
beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a 
torn world can see.

Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the 
streets.

Maybe he was more than that. 
Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, 
to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, 
then said, "go minister to that man cleaning the Jeep, that man 
needs help."



Don't we all?

"A MountainWings Original"


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