For a Few Pieces of Silver

On the way to work this morning, I stopped at an AM/PM in Auburn to get a cup of coffee. It was crowded in front so I parked at the side of the building, out of sight of the front windows.

Making my way inside the store, I passed a guy lighting a cigarette. Long and greying around the temples, he had a mustache, too, also grey, His bike and backpack were leaning against the wall. His clothes were well worn but clean.

"Morning. Nice day, isn't it?" he politely greeted. "Yep, sure is", I answered and kept moving, hoping not to be drawn into a conversation.

"Gonna be warmer too."

"Yeah. Feels like it", I called back and continued into the mini-mart to purchase my coffee

The brief exchange wasn't more than 10 seconds because, at least from my perspective, I’d done my best to keep but break into a sprint to make sure it stayed short lived. It wasn’t anything personal- I was kind of in a hurry and just don’t make conversation very well with people I’m unfamiliar with. Anyway, I didn’t think any more of it except, in the back of my mind, I was happy I’d locked the car.

When my coffee transaction was complete, I made the return walk back to my vehicle, but once again, encountered the outgoing smoking stranger. "Hey, do you think you could spare 50 cents for a cup of coffee?"

I noticed he was holding several coins in one of his hands, so I wasn't the first person he'd asked this morning. But I had exactly 71 extra cents left over from my hot brew purchase and without hesitation, handed it over. At that particular moment, I really didn't need it and figured it make the guy leave me alone.

The man smiled and shook my hand.. "Thank you, friend. God bless you. You have a great day, okay?"

"Not a problem. You too" I answered, at last addressing him directly.

I got back into my car.  He waved and I waved back.

Backing up to vacate the Mini Mart parking area and return to the main drag, I noticed the owner of the Explorer who'd pulled in next to me, had returned from his own coffee buying expedition. When he walked by my new 71-cent-richer friend, he was clearly asked the same question that’d been asked of me. But Explorer guy ignored him. He just brushed by and didn't even look at him, like he wasn’t even there.

But the man with the ever-ready smile didn't seem to take offense. He just waved as the Explorer pulled out and lit another cigarette.

Of course, when I merged back into the busy Auburn traffic, from Dry Creek Road onto Highway 49, I remembered having an attitude similar to Mr. Ford Explorer; not just that time, but plenty of other times, too. I recall being just as dismissive, though maybe not as impolite. But I‘d blown people off, too; people just like the tobacco scented panhandler outside the AM/PM. And for no good reason. I just did.

But I wondered why, at last, I reacted differently today.

I walked by a fellow human, down on his luck, who made a simple request. I complied and moved on. That's all I did. Maybe it was a "What Would Jesus Do" moment. But the situation presented itself so quickly I didn't really have time to consciously make that assessment. Besides, Jesus would've taken the guy home, cleaned him up, fed him a full breakfast and then ask if there was anything else He could do.

All I did was get rid of some spare change, and get on with my day. End of story.

So this tiny act of charity doesn't make me a saint; any more than the Explorer guy's lack of it makes him a sinner. It just means that for today, he and I responded to the same random incident differently. Tomorrow I may revert to jackass status again he’ll become Mother Teresa. 

However, what I know for certain is that today, for a measly 71 cents I purchased a whole week's worth of satisfaction.