It was mid afternoon. I left the store. Began to drive toward the main route. Stopped at the traffic light.  There stood a man. He was old. Standing on a corner with a sign. “WILL WORK FOR FOOD“ He was just standing there. He was not looking at the cars. He was looking at the sky.

The light had changed. I began to drive. I began to think. If my father was still alive, he would have picked him up and brought him home. He would have given him a job. That was my father. Make him work for his food, in a kind, never condescending way. I on the other hand could not. I have no home that belongs to me… my family remains in my fathers house, yet it is not the same. In a moment I pulled an illegal U turn and turned around. I stopped the car and jumped out. I gave him some money. “I can not give you a job, but lunch is on me…” He was thankful and kind. I could see he was damaged and tired… I saw his eyes for a brief moment… the the traffic began to complain… I said goodbye and ran to my car…  My legs were shaking… I felt the energy…

I felt the energy… I felt his Life, his dreams as I drove away. I imagined a young boy dreaming about his future. I felt the disappointment, the shame, the way Life can go ‘wrong’. I do not judge his mistakes, nor what left him on the corner begging to work for food. He is the judge. I do not know his story, nor would I try to imagine. There are reasons why things happen, reasons for the mysteries, reasons for the trouble, lessons to be learned…  I only can imagine the little boy this man once was… he must have dreamt… where are his dreams?

For now I leave this to you all to ponder… this weekend… think of your dreams, how lucky you are. This is one man, one lost dream. Now think of others… others who have yet to dream or lose. Pain, loss, suffering… indeed is relative to the person or situation. You can not gage another’s capacity for either empathy or apathy.

You can however think upon your dreams… to lose them, although not forever is as painful as sadness on the edge of reason. Would you work for food?  Shame is the ultimate sacrifice… then all that you wish will come true… Sacrifice once and all will be new…