Written by Every once in a while we witness events or actions of society that remind us how fortunate we are. I am very thankful for the wonderful people I have in my life and for the things that I have accomplished in my short time here. As a consultant, I have begun traveling frequently. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for my current assignment. In the past twenty four hours I have observed numerous things that affirm my thankfulness.
Last night while walking back to my car at a parking lot in downtown, after enjoying fish and chips and several brews from a local brewery, I noticed a mobile soup kitchen in another lot with what must have been nearly one hundred people lined up to get fed. Never have I seen so many unfortunate people in one location.
This evening I ate at the Taco Bell near my hotel. The haggard and dirty man before me paid for a meal that cost $2.50 in pennies and nickels and mentioned that was all he had. After I sat down with my food another man walked in clutching his bottle of whiskey and asked what he could get for $1.53 because that was all he had. He sat down next to me and struck up a conversation. His job was ‘hustling signatures’ for a petition to keep mens entertainment establishments open past midnight. He mentioned that someone that he got to sign it gave him a dollar fifty-three. I declined his request for my signature claiming that I was from Dallas. That led to chit chat about the Cowboys. As I got up to leave, he asked:
I’m not a bum sir, but do you have any spare change?
I obliged and gave him a couple of dollars. Right as I threw away my trash from dinner a bus driver for Columbus public transportation entered and asked what he could get to eat for one dollar.
These situations are definite eye openers and make me very grateful for everything I enjoy. However, as I think about it I’m torn by my objectiveness. Should I be saddened that there are impoverished people like this all around the country? We will not discuss poverty in other countries as that is not the topic here. Should I be maddened that these people are not taking the steps necessary to have a ‘better’ life? How does one define a better life? My better life would not be the same as these folks.
Let’s not even go into the illegal immigration aspect and make this an issue of Americans versus illegals. Yet, what do the illegals do that these perfectly capable people aren’t doing to make their life better?
Tell the ones you love that you in fact love them and are grateful for their existence in your life. Take a moment to look objectively at the things you take for granted.
Matt, we are so thankful you have a sincere sensitive heart. I don’t
think we all realize how blessed we are until we observe some folks
like you have encountered in your travels. Thank you for being so
kind, you may never know what you said or did may reap rewards in
those folks lives. We love you and are very proud of you. Gran
One of the most eye opening experiences for me was volunteering at the homeless shelter in downtown Dallas. Most of these people don’t have the friends and family around that are able to help in times of need. Whether it be poor decision making, disability, or whatever the circumstance, these people don’t have the support system that we have to bail them out. Have sympathy for the people trying to survive.
What bothers me are the people that have every opportunity to succeed (money, family, etc..) but choose to do nothing.
Someone said ‘Bad isn’t good until worse happens’.
Matt you put it rightly saying ‘My better life would not be the same as these folks.’
A person hardly possessing $2 will think his life got better when he generates an income of $5.
A millionare’s life is ‘better’ when he hits the billion dollar mark. Unfortunately we human beings can never reach the ‘better life’ mark because we want more and more. Just like one looses all his money at a casino for the want of more.
My personal belief is ‘I need enough money to forget about money’
Matt, your observations are well taken. I’m glad you had it in your heartr to be generous. “To whom much is given, much is expected”.
Who knows why they don’t live their lives differently? So many thingsa come in to play–addiction, mental illness, etc., etc. All things we just don’t understand. They just got lost somewhere along the way. We are all God’s children.
We never know where life is going to take us….most especially
when our lives depend on the very existence of our spouse or most adored family member. Never let your life depend upon either…..because they could be living a double existence or as far as family, may have distorted views about what life really is, we can create a bubble that only see black or white and no grey. Charity starts at home and you should nevcr look at a close family member as a loser or as someone that does not deserve you empathy or compassion. Maybe you should think about what if that happened to me. I have been homeless and hungry…..where was my family and someone to give me money for Taco Bell? Right in the same city. When you think your looking deep, look a little deeper. Because the rug may be pulled out from under you when you least expect it and your existence, as you know it, may be over. Don’t think because you did one good deed that you have done enough. There is most likely a thousand more good deeds that you could have done and it would not even have effected your pocket book, but would have filled your heart and soul with a sense of eternal fulfillment and good Karma. For those that think they are blessed, believe me they think they are deserving because they attend church every Sunday. We are all Gods children and deserve to be blessed. It’s when you stop helping your fellow man, brothers and sisters that we will feel the big bite out of our asses. Don’t be so quick to judge and condem. Just ask what if that we were me or my beloved family member and never think that you would never be that person at Taco Bell just wanting your belly full. KAR
Huh?