The Eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas
This evening, I went to Walmart to return a defective “pre-lighted” Christmas tree (which I purchased only yesterday). When I had attempted to assemble it, I discovered about half of the tree’s lights didn’t work, which as you might imagine incredibly annoyed and frustrated me!
Then, to my great disappointment, and when I returned the defective tree to the Walmart, I learned they didn’t have a comparable tree in stock to replace it (I even asked them to sell me the “floor model” as a replacement, but the store manager said that wasn’t allowable). I walked out of the store feeling annoyed and defeated.
Demoralized and disappointed, and as I walked back to my car, I happened to pass a young man who was walking through the parking lot, and who was literally crying “out loud.” It was extremely obvious to me that he was in a state of great distress. And it greatly disturbed me!
At first, I simply walked right past him and headed toward my car. Then, my conscience getting the best of me, I felt this great desire to go back and ask him if he was “okay.” At that point, I noticed he was holding in his hand one of those cardboard signs that said something like “Homeless and hungry, please help me.”
Then, for a brief few moments, and because I invited him to do so, we sat together on a bench outside of the Walmart and we chatted together.
He told me he was crying because, for some reason, his teeth were causing him tremendous, unending, and excruciating pain. He told me he had no one to help him, and that because of the “bad blood” he has had with family and former friends, he’s all alone and doesn’t know where to turn next, or where to get help. He seemed at his “whits end.”
I asked him how old he was and he told me he was twenty-four years old.
He asked me if I could “help” him, but I told him I didn’t have a lot of money, and/but against my better judgement, I gave him a few dollars.
Then I put my arm around his shoulder, and I looked him in the eye, and said “I don’t know you, or what your 'issues' are, but I promise you there is light at the end of the tunnel . . . please, my brother, don’t give up hope . . . and please know that God loves you, and that many people out there want to help you, if only they could.”
I think he was actually very grateful for that very brief moment of “humanity” we shared together. And then, before he stood and departed from me, he very genuinely thanked me very profusely. And then I sadly watched as he moved away and disappeared back into the chaos of the Christmas parking lot rush.
Suddenly, and from an existential perspective, my annoyance about the defective Christmas tree I had just returned to the Walmart seemed totally insignificant.
Then, when I returned to my car and started to head out of the Walmart parking lot, I found myself crying like a baby . . .
I hope and pray he is okay . . .
My friends, please pray for Conner.
And so in the spirit of the Season, I feel compelled to share this encounter with you!
Happy Holidays!
Then, to my great disappointment, and when I returned the defective tree to the Walmart, I learned they didn’t have a comparable tree in stock to replace it (I even asked them to sell me the “floor model” as a replacement, but the store manager said that wasn’t allowable). I walked out of the store feeling annoyed and defeated.
Demoralized and disappointed, and as I walked back to my car, I happened to pass a young man who was walking through the parking lot, and who was literally crying “out loud.” It was extremely obvious to me that he was in a state of great distress. And it greatly disturbed me!
At first, I simply walked right past him and headed toward my car. Then, my conscience getting the best of me, I felt this great desire to go back and ask him if he was “okay.” At that point, I noticed he was holding in his hand one of those cardboard signs that said something like “Homeless and hungry, please help me.”
Then, for a brief few moments, and because I invited him to do so, we sat together on a bench outside of the Walmart and we chatted together.
He told me he was crying because, for some reason, his teeth were causing him tremendous, unending, and excruciating pain. He told me he had no one to help him, and that because of the “bad blood” he has had with family and former friends, he’s all alone and doesn’t know where to turn next, or where to get help. He seemed at his “whits end.”
I asked him how old he was and he told me he was twenty-four years old.
He asked me if I could “help” him, but I told him I didn’t have a lot of money, and/but against my better judgement, I gave him a few dollars.
Then I put my arm around his shoulder, and I looked him in the eye, and said “I don’t know you, or what your 'issues' are, but I promise you there is light at the end of the tunnel . . . please, my brother, don’t give up hope . . . and please know that God loves you, and that many people out there want to help you, if only they could.”
I think he was actually very grateful for that very brief moment of “humanity” we shared together. And then, before he stood and departed from me, he very genuinely thanked me very profusely. And then I sadly watched as he moved away and disappeared back into the chaos of the Christmas parking lot rush.
Suddenly, and from an existential perspective, my annoyance about the defective Christmas tree I had just returned to the Walmart seemed totally insignificant.
Then, when I returned to my car and started to head out of the Walmart parking lot, I found myself crying like a baby . . .
I hope and pray he is okay . . .
My friends, please pray for Conner.
And so in the spirit of the Season, I feel compelled to share this encounter with you!
Happy Holidays!
Timothy
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