Fresh from the Farm: Seeing life through another's eyes

While my column here at HSJ Online is usually of the adventures on my farm that I have been blessed with, this article will be a little different.

A few weeks ago I took my client to McDonalds for lunch. As I sat there complaining because I was forcing myself to eat a salad, a gentleman walked in. I noticed him on the street earlier, and I thought to myself how out of place he looked in our "perfect" community as he appeared homeless. That's not suppose to happen in our local communities.

I watched as he ordered his food. A meager meal of a cheeseburger and a cup of coffee.I noticed others glaring at him as if to say "You don't belong here". Suddenly my salad just didn't seem so bad.

I watched as he carried his food to the back of the store. Even though it was 90 degrees out, he was wearing a sweatshirt jacket with the hood up. His feet were adorned in heavy lined boots that had seen many a long, cold winter. He had the gait of a 90 year old man, yet something about his face told me he was my age, or younger.

His clothes had obviously not been washed in quite some time. There was what appeared to be a wet spot that covered nearly the entire back of his jacket. The aroma told me that he had not bathed in quite a while.

I watched as he sat quietly in the corner, minding his own business, eating his burger and drinking his coffee. I watched as others carried large trays of food to their tables while making sure to stay clear of the man in the corner. It was obvious this man was the topic of several discussions. By the look on their faces, it appeared they didn't have much good to say about him. I doubt that any of them actually knew this man. He sat quietly, looking at no one, minding his own business.

I went to the counter and purchased a gift card. I walked to this man's table, laid the card down and simply said "This will help with a couple of meals."

When he looked at me cold chills ran down my spine. I have been told to look deep into someone's eyes is to look into their soul. It was obvious that this man had had a hard life. Whether it was by bad luck, bad choices, or born into it, I don't know. It really doesn't matter. This was a human being who was tired and weary. I will never forget how others looked at him. I walked away with a deep sense of guilt that there was nothing more that I could do.

I went back to my table and turned my head so that nobody would see the tears falling from my eyes. I was going home to a beautiful family, a roof over my head, food on my table and clean clothes on my back. All I had left for this man was prayers that he would find a safe place to lay his head that night. It made me realize just how truly blessed I am, and how much I take for granted everyday!

I think we all take things for granted.

I believe that God brings others into our lives for a reason. Perhaps he used this man's eyes to remind me of how great my blessings are in my life. Those eyes will stay with me the rest of my days.

Look around. What have you taken for granted? If all you had tomorrow is what you thanked God for today....what would you have?

Peace and Blessings