No one ever prepares us for life's uncertainties and nothing is spelled out to the dot as we start our life's journey. Not even the beggar expected less of life but there he lay,with his frail frame to the ground,his small body covered by a tattered cassock,brown or may be red with the dust ,blood stains evident on his legs obviously tired from doing nothing but begging. As I passed by one more time, still looking at the lifted hands and holding tight to the coins in my purse,I felt the guilt mount. I see him yet I fail to help him.I see his helpless state yet I tell myself,he is just fine.After all,he might be having a day's wage better than my own. In reason,I missed his call for help. Wasn't he the least of brothers that I am called to help?
And through the day,I have been seeing his frame burst through my mind.How he sat down to a meal of stale,cold leftovers,I saw him as he sheltered himself from the sun with a sack.How is it we do not see them? How is it that I could pass by without holding down my pace to help? There in the presence of my compassion,I felt his plight,I felt him beckoning for a helping hand but most of all for a redeemer.Many as they are,this little frail being needed help the most. So I decided I had to go back,I have to help him,maybe to survive today but help anyway.I am going back and this time,when I pass by and see his hands lifted or when he follows me about,I will stop and from the depths of my pocket I will give him some money to have or some fresh food. On that day,I will carry an extra coat to keep him warm through the rainy days.
I will smile to him and tell him, everything will be fine someday.I will plant a hope for not just another coin for today but for leverage of a stable tomorrow. And each day I will plant a seed of a better providence to the coiled bundle of hope,until the day the streets are no longer his home. With my small efforts I hope to redeem his life and maybe beat the uncertainties that have accompanied him through the years. The little bundle of help beckons to me and I will surely reach out this time with a greater need to redeem him but mostly to redeem myself,for with time I have forgotten how to help the stranger that looms besides me.
