Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
- Matthew 22:37-39
I hope you’ve been keeping cool wherever you are - in our area, the weather has been hot, hot, hot for the last couple weeks, and it looks like that’ll be the case for the immediate future as well.
The other day Sam and I stopped by CVS to pick up some prescriptions. There was an older gentleman resting outside the sliding doors, with still-tagged sunglasses sitting on his nose and a request for spare change on his lips.
Nowadays I never carry around cash, but before my apology could make itself heard Sam spoke up.
“Hey, man. I got you, just give me a sec,” and he turned right around and headed straight back to the car.
He ended up only having a small handful of change, but while the gentleman and I were waiting for him to return we were able to have a small chat.
He’d been hospitalized a while back, and in care for several years. Once he was finally released he found no one waiting for him - his wife had disappeared and he hadn’t heard from her for at least four years now.
Once Sam returned, we said our goodbyes and went back to our errands, but that older man stayed on my mind.
How often have I walked past someone with a nonchalant “sorry, I don’t have any cash” and then went on my way with nary another thought?
And yet, just two minutes listening to one person and I was reminded that people are all people, and all of us have value - and stories, and heart. And that sometimes, it’s not the money but time and attention that matters the most to those in need.
I try to make sure I have some cash with me whenever I step out of the house now. If nothing else, it might be a good way to spark a connection and give me a chance to ask to hear someone’s story.
Is there a person in your life that might need someone to listen to theirs?
