Outside the Grocery Store

My first less-than-perfect attempt at this project was while grocery shopping on Saturday. As I entered the grocery store, I saw a man selling Street Wise (in Chicago, the homeless often sell this newspaper to make a little money). Did I have the care package with me (see The Least of These Project post for info)? Of course not. The first lesson here is: be prepared! And if you are not prepared, then improvise. I decided to buy him a variety of food and deliver it to him as I left. Then I could also chat with him and get his story. As I shopped, I periodically checked out the window to see that he was still there. When I finally got outside, he was gone.

At the end of the block, however, I saw a man in a wheel chair holding a tattered paper cup asking for donations. When I gave him the food, he said "God bless you." When was the last time I said "God bless you" to someone who hadn't just sneezed? Probably never.

He spoke with difficulty because he had been in a coma for six months. But he was animated and excited to tell me about how we was saving up to buy a new arm for his glasses because one of them had broken. He almost had enough money. Despite his illness and handicaps, he was happy to be alive. He said that God had kept him alive and that he just knew God had something for him to do here on earth. He was excited to figure out what it would be.

At this point, I was humbled beyond belief. He was doing more for me than I had done for him. What's a little food in exchange for seeing God reflected in the hope and faith of someone who refuses to give up despite what this world throws at him. He has his priorities straight. I had to ask myself, "do I?"