A Charitable Heart
“What if God was one of us. Just a slob like one of us. Just a stranger on the bus. Trying to make His way home? – Joan Osborne, “What if God Was One of Us”
Early last December, while I was sitting in a drive-thru line up, waiting for my coffee and lunch to be prepared, I came upon a sad looking, down-trodden man who looked to be down-on-his-luck. Dirty clothing, unshaven and unkempt, he was wandering around in the cold, in the field across from this establishment. I thought how lucky I was, to have enough money in my pocket to get myself a bite to eat and a coffee to warm me up on that cold day; and at the same time, how unlucky he seemed. I thought to myself, that because I seemingly had more than what he appeared to have, I should share my fortunes to help him in his, misfortunes. I just happened to have a twenty-dollar bill in my purse; even though I seldom carry cash. It had to be a sign of sorts, telling me to give it to him; to help alleviate his suffering. So, I got out of the car, while daughter number one drove around and got our food for us, and I ran over with this bill in my hand. I asked him if he was okay, and did he need anything. He suggested that he was hungry and asked if I had any money. I handed him the twenty and he was off; on his way to get something to eat, or to do with the money whatever he so chose. I didn’t care what he was spending it on because true giving sees only the need, not the cause. I gave it to him to use it how he needed to use it, to get out of the cold; whatever that looked like for him.
Now, I’m not telling you this now, as a way to solicit praise for a 'good deed'; on the contrary, people do things like this every day and never tell anyone else they did. A truly charitable heart doesn’t boast of the good things it does for others. In fact, just the other day, a lady in the vehicle ahead of me in another drive-thru, bought my tea for me. I don’t know if she knew me, if she saw my veteran plate, or if she was just a giving person; hoping I would pay it forward to someone else. The fact is, she did something nice, and demonstrated to me, this kind of charitable heart. The kind that spreads light and love; and that makes one’s faith stronger; regardless of, in which light that faith lies. It’s the kind of act that spreads hope in a sometimes, otherwise hopeless world. The kind of act that helps others believe in one another, again. That restores faith in humankind, after having lost faith in one another because of the selfishness, cruelty and darkness that exists in our world today. This is the real reason I’m telling you about this man; about my interactions with him on this cold December day.
I am not sharing this story to be boastful, I am sharing it to demonstrated how it made me feel, and what I realized that day. I didn’t see this interaction necessarily, as a good deed on my part, but as a kind of act that we should all simply consider a normal response to finding someone in need or suffering; to help meet that need, or to alleviate their suffering, in whatever way we can. When we are blessed, to share our blessings with others. To feed the hungry, and help those in need, or in trouble. To have a charitable heart, to be Godly, and to shine your light out from the darkness; upon others who need this light. To do these things, can restore both your faith, and the faith of others; in whatever divine being they believe in, or in one another.
I’ve always wondered, when I’ve been put in situations similar to this one, if it were a test of some kind; a way of testing the true charitability of my heart, or my selflessness. If it were, in fact, God walking among us, testing our capacity for love. Testing our faith in the Divine and our ability to shine light upon others, in the way we are expected to do. I often see situations like these, as ways of proving my faith, and of demonstrating a charitable heart; both to humankind, and the divine. I’ve often wondered, if the, “stranger on the bus”, is actually God, allowing us the opportunity to help Him “make His way home”; allowing us to please Him. Allowing us to spread light and use our charitable hearts that were gifted to us. I often wonder, if things like this are Divine tests of some kind, that make or break us; that decide our blessings and further gifts. If, when we fail, we continue to struggle. If, when we pass the test, we are put on the right path; that will ultimately lead us to these blessings.
Either way, regardless of what you believe, and whether or not you believe in anything at all, if you have something to give, you are blessed. Whether or not we will be blessed for givin, we are blessed by the ability to give. Being able to give means we have something to give; means we live a life of abundance, even if we don’t see it that way. It means we have compassion, love, light and a charitable heart; which, are blessings enough, in and of themselves. Being blessed with the ability to give, to help and to alleviate the suffering of others, is in my humble opinion, one of the greatest gifts we can be given. Having light, to shine on others, is another gift such as these. To shine your light on and for others; through using your charitable heart is to pass these kinds of tests. Having fortunes to share; even if it’s only twenty dollars, makes you fortunate. As does, being able to recognize a need in others, and to help fulfil that need.
Since that cold December day, I’ve seen this man many times, in many places; places I wouldn’t normally see a person of such apparent diminished means, otherwise. Every time I see him, I wonder the same thing; the same song lyrics come to my mind, “what if God were one of us, just a slob like one of us. Just a stranger, on the bus, trying to make his way home…”, and I feel blessed that I have these gifts; the ability to see and spread light, a charitable heart and a compassionate soul. And, I feel blessed that I can see each situation like this, as an opportunity to be grateful; an opportunity to have a charitable heart.