DON'T WE ALL???

January 23, 2008

The Scum

You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who

can do nothing for him.

Everyone respects and helps the millionaire, the famous, the boss,

those with beauty and brains. What about the scum on the street?

This is a real story.

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 scum.

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 scum

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 who 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 scum, then

said, " go minister to that man cleaning the Jeep, that man needs

help. "

Don't we all?

________________

Be Blessed and be a blessing !!

________________

--

With warm regards,

Lalita

January 23, 2008

Sai Ram, I was sincerely moved by your experience. Hail the Scum!! What a wonder example of humility combined with nobility of that bystander. That's probably the way God presents himself in his own inimitable way. Be Blessed. Venu Bellare. Lalita Rao <lalita9 wrote: The ScumYou can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those whocan do nothing for him.Everyone respects and helps the

millionaire, the famous, the boss,those with beauty and brains. What about the scum on the street?This is a real story.I was parked in front of the church cleaning out my Jeep. I waswaiting on someone. Coming my way from across the street was whatsociety would consider a scum.From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, andno money. There are times when you feel generous but there are othertimes 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. Hecame 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 scragglyblond beard keep more than his face warm. I said, "thanks," andcontinued cleaning out the Jeep. He sat there quietly as

I worked. Theexpected plea for money never came.As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him ifhe needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held trueto 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 fromthose of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing butan 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 scumin the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gaugeshotgun.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, butenough to take a cab anywhere in the

city and get food and shelter forthe 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 withproblems, 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 who appears to have it all.They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A differentperspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite fromdaily 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 asoul too comfortable in themselves.Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a scum,

thensaid, "go minister to that man cleaning the Jeep, that man needshelp."Don't we all?________________Be Blessed and be a blessing !!________________-- With warm regards,LalitaCheer up, smile and be HAPPY ALWAYS!!!!!!