"Can I have some money so I can catch the bus
home," the woman said to me as I walked down Michigan Ave in
Chicago last week. I had just spoken at a conference and was
enjoying a several hour evening walk around one of my favorite
cites- experiencing the energy and buzz of the big city.
I gave the woman a few dollars as she walked in step with
me. "Do you know where the book store is," I asked. "A few
blocks ahead," she said as she continued to walk with me. "I'm
not really taking the bus you know," she said.
"I figured
that," I told her.
"I live on the streets."
"Why," I
asked.
"Because I just got out of prison for selling
drugs," she told me, "and I'm on parole so I can't leave to be
with my family who lives in another city."
At first I wasn't sure if I believed her but something
inside me told me she was telling the truth. "I told you I was
taking the bus," she continued, "because a woman just told me
I wasn't dirty enough to give money to. So I had to come up
with something else." "It doesn't matter to me," I told her.
"I give money all the time to homeless people. I used to
ignore them thinking they would just spend it on alcohol but
then one day I decided that what they do with the money I give
is between them and God. I give to give and that's between me
and God."
"Well, I'll use it for a good purpose," she said. "I'm
trying to get my life together." "You're in pain, aren't you,"
I asked as we continued to walk.
"Yes," she said as tears
started to well up in her eyes. "I figure I'm suffering right
now for all I have done wrong."
"No," I said, "You don't have to suffer. Now begins the
first day of your life. You're not meant to suffer from what
you have done wrong. You are meant to learn from the past so
you can create a better life and future for yourself. You've
suffered enough. Now it's time to forgive yourself and ask for
forgiveness."
"Are you a preacher or something," she asked with tears
coming down her face? "No," I responded, laughing. "Honestly,"
I said, "I've been inspired by the life of Jesus and the way
he lived. I just try to love others in the same way. Not
perfect by any means but I strive." "Well you should be a
preacher," she said, "because I've never listened to any other
preacher before."
We then reached the book store, stopped for a moment and I
gave her twenty dollars to enjoy a nice meal. But as I was
about to say goodbye I turned and asked her into the book
store with me so I could buy her one of my books. She agreed
and we walked around the book store and sure enough there was
one copy left. Then we walked over to the spiritual section
and I had the impulse to also get her another book. As we
stood there looking at all the books I heard a man and woman
around the corner talking about love, forgiveness and God.
Coincidence? I don't think so. I went up to them and asked for
their help in picking out a good book for this woman.
As they started sharing various books she might like I
stood in complete awe of this moment. Three strangers, picking
out a book for a homeless woman that could change her life
forever. It was a miracle moment I'll never forget.
The choice came down to two books and then I asked her,
"Which one is speaking to you?" A huge smile came over her
face as she pointed continuously to a book by Pastor TD Jakes.
Then something interesting happened. I didn't know where the
checkout counter was but she did. She knew where everything in
the book store was.
Then it hit me.
"You've been here before," I asked.
"Yes," she said. "I read a lot in the park during the
day."
"So you use the money you collect from people like me
to buy books," I asked?
"Yes, books and food," she said.
"But these books will always be my favorite."
We walked
outside and she gave me a big spontaneous hug goodbye.
As I walked down the street back towards my beautiful,
expensive hotel I felt guilty for not doing more. I felt
ashamed for wanting to wash my hands after she hugged me with
her dirty jacket. I thought of the look on her face and the
tears in her eyes and felt both her hope and sorrow. The
experience touched me in the deepest part of my soul. I
stopped to sit on a park bench and broke down and cried.
Please know that I tell you this story not to shine a
light on me but to hopefully inspire you to reach out to a
stranger and lend a helping hand and make a difference,
somehow, someway. It is so overwhelming when we think of all
the pain in the world and yet if we all do something we can
accomplish a lot. This experience has inspired me to do more
and I will.
Sending Positive Energy Your Way,
- Jon
