"...there but for the grace of God there go I."

by Kuanita Murphy on 11/04/11

It was a gorgeous fall day in November, and I was on the road traveling home from a business trip. I drove in silence to meditate and to reflect.

The view along the way was spectacular. Mother Nature’s autumn palette was perceptible and tantalizing to the eye. After sometime, hunger set in. And so, I decided to stop and have lunch at a popular eatery. I purchased a meal and parked in the parking lot near by. Nothing out of the ordinary there was.

 As I was eating, a young man walked by my vehicle. His clothes were dirty and showed signs of extreme wear. His hair was in disarray; and exhaustion and hunger wore heavily upon his face.

 In his hand, he carried a plastic shopping bag filled with clothes. Though we made eye contact as he passed my vehicle, neither of us acknowledged the other. I continued to eat my lunch as he took his seat on the street curve parallel to the where I was parked.

 He sat quietly with a card board sign in his hand that read: Will work for food.

I sat for a moment intently watching him. People drove quickly by him without as much as a glance. Life as I knew it, flashed before me as I watched.

 How could I not hear the immutable cry of my fellow man? I thought. Suddenly, I was inspired to action. Reaching in side my purse, I gathered the money that I had, rolled down the car window, and beckoned the young man for his attention.

 “Excuse me, sir. I would like to give you a donation,” I said.

 He gently nodded, stood, and began walking towards me. Once more, we made eye contact as I gave him the money.

 “Thank you, mame. God bless you,” he said.

 Hurriedly, the young man walked away. I continued to watch him as he swiftly crossed the street of busy traffic and entered a popular chain restaurant.

 And so, in actuality, the young man blessed me. In full color, I was reminded that there but for the grace of God go I.

God has a way of getting one’s attention. His grace is real. Be grateful for things great and small. Today it may be my neighbor. Tomorrow it could be me.~