People are People.

Every week when Jude and I travel to his soccer practice, we are confronted with this elderly man standing at the robots begging with his sign board, declaring his state of destitution. He has the most intensely disturbing blue eyes which you don’t get to see very often as he is clearly so very humiliated standing there “doing what he is doing” that he mostly avoids eye contact.

It is probably the most awkward moment of my day, because although I would like to help him, I don’t always have anything on me to give him… We have given to him on several occasions, but not all the time.

I get so sad looking at him, because there are so many thoughts that cross my mind… he must be in his early 60’s so surely he has a family? If so, where are they? Does he have children? I often wonder what it would be like to get to know him and hear his stories. I have no doubt that he is probably a very knowledgeable individual. One who also had dreams and aspirations at one point in his life. The thought of this makes me so sad.

Passing him the other day really made me think about this as Jude who was sitting next to me in the car had one of those “fancy dress” Moustaches on a stick and he was busy playing the fool talking like a “big man” and the chap at the traffic lights was wearing a new hat which no doubt somebody had given him.

Jude jokingly smiled and waved at the old man as he showed off his stick moustache like the ridiculous teen that he is lol, and the man looked at him and cracked the biggest smile. It was the first time I have ever seen him smile and it broke my heart!

People can so often be cruel to those less fortunate than themselves. I do know that there is a difference between being compassionate and enabling a problem, but I do think that people should afford such individuals a little of their time.
Say good morning. Tell them to have a wonderful day. Buy them a loaf of bread or give them something that offers them a little bit of hope. If you gave them more than a second of your time, you will most likely discover that they have so many wonderful gifts of knowledge to return to you.

I have formed friendships like this with a few vagrants over the years and they truly are the most interesting characters – very “worldly” and every bit deserving of your time. They are people, just like you and I … never forget that!

❤❤❤

Until next time...
Much Love from Country Bumpkinland, South Africa xxx
Jaynielea

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