I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. 
I had just come from the car wash 
and was waiting for my wife to get off work.
Coming my way from across the parking lot 
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 curb in front of the bus stop, 
but he didn't look like he could have enough money 
to even ride the bus. 
After a few minutes he spoke. 
"That's a very pretty car," he said. 
He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. 
His scraggly blond beard kept more than his face warm. 
I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car. 
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, definitely 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 get a warm meal 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 car, 
that man needs help." 

Don't we all? 
 

~Author Unknown~