Have you ever noticed that the universe repeats itself until you acknowledge the message? Like variations on a theme, the music keeps coming until you notice your foot has begun to tap along with the beat! The most recent verse of the song for me came in the form a man I met on the road a couple weeks ago. He appeared to be homeless, dressed in layers of ill-fitting and badly worn garments. He was young, had a grimy face, a bushy beard and long brown hair. His coat and over-shirt were unbuttoned despite the biting wind and cold. His missing front tooth was prominent in a kind and gentle smile! “Hey, brother”, he asked as he approached, “Got any money?” Now, mostly, I try not to give out money on the street. I’ve been well schooled by guys in my ex-offender groups, men who’ve been homeless themselves! They tell me if you really want to help folks on the pavement, plan ahead and carry stuff in your car that you can give away. Blankets are good! So are backpacks! Even inexpensive little things like bottles of water or protein bars can mean a great deal out there! Also, new plastic bags containing tube socks or boxer shorts are highly prized, because second-hand clothing distributors aren’t allowed to deal in these previously used items! But, just then, my cupboard was bare. I had no gifts to give. And not much time to spend either! Although on occasion I’ve taken a stranger like this into a restaurant for a hot meal, or a cup of coffee, the miles and the hour were taking their toll on me. I was far from home, tired, and lonesome. I just wanted to get back to my motel. “Sorry”, I said. “Can’t help today”. I was immediately taken by the concern in his eyes. “No money?”, he asked. “Not right now”, I said. “That sucks, Bro”, he said, “Trust me, I know! ” Then as he eyed the threadbare cuffs of my prized and severely worn, twenty-five year-old leather bomber jacket, the young man shocked and embarrassed me. “Maybe I can help!”, he said. “Let me see how much, I’ve got!” The young man carefully fished a thick brown wallet from the front pocket of his baggy jeans and began to look through the many wads of folded paper he kept within it for signs of legal tender. “I must have buck or two somewhere in here”, he said, almost to himself. He didn’t. Then despite my protestations, he began to go through his other pockets. I was, to say the least, mortified! Not to mention exposed, at least to myself, as more than a bit of a hypocrite! I couldn’t under any circumstances TAKE this man’s last dollar if he actually had one! But I also knew by his face that I wouldn’t have the heart to deny his beautiful gesture, should he miraculously produce a crumpled bill! He looked so freakin’ HAPPY! I mean his face seemed to light up just thinking he might be able to help someone else down on THEIR luck! At this point, Dave, the local music promoter whose folk series was responsible for booking me in this quiet little Midwestern town, happened down Main Street. Dave assessed the situation at a glance, and came to my rescue. He assured my would-be benefactor that I’d definitely be taken care of, as he good naturedly fielded admonishments from the earnest stranger that, “It’s gonna be real cold tonight, Mister! You better get this dude inside”! Dave and I parted ways with the young man after thanking him warmly for his genuine concern. The whole thing lasted a couple minutes, but the encounter stayed with me for days. Like a song playing in my head over and over. Yep, the universe repeats itself until you acknowledge the message! Just two days before, I’d had an interesting talk with a retired pastor named Ray who’d attended a lecture I’d given at a Southern Illinois junior college about Woody Guthrie and some of those who’d followed in his footsteps. The pastor assured me after my presentation that what I’d been doing, what I’d been saying, and what I’d been singing all these years was at its essence about Relationship. Relationships are busted up all around us, he explained, and our mission here on earth is to help folks set them right! Right with our world, right with our brother, right with our selves, right with our Creator! Yep, the universe keeps repeating itself until we acknowledge the message! I heard the young man got arrested the very next day for helping himself to the donated cans in a “food drive” basket at a local church. Now Ray’s words play in my mind every time I think back on the shining ragged soul I met on that windy street. Relationships are busted up all around us, and our mission here on earth is to help folks set them right. The young man, in his own beautiful way, was telling me the very same thing! I’ll be playing in Jacksonville, Roseland, Coral Springs, and Sebastian, Florida this week. Please check my schedule at this link: johnflynn.net/jfnet/photoback_website/Gigs.html Peace, John
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 19:28:03 +0000
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