Love thy neighbor
Standing in the pouring rain
On a city corner
Not dressed for Winter weather
Yet he didn’t complain
Though he’s covered in raindrops
From his head to foot
He smiles and says he’s thankful
It’s not a hot, sunny day
Choka
Today was a wet, windy, winter day as Oregon winters usually are. I didn’t really want to be out in it but I needed coffee for tomorrow’s breakfast so I made a quick run to the grocery.
I left the store feeling pretty cheery as my coffee was on sale and the bottles I returned put an extra $2.00 cash in my pocket.
As I was driving out of the store parking lot I got stopped at the red light, where a young man in only a thin shirt and pants was standing holding a soggy cardboard sign that said “Anything Helps. Have a Blessed Day”
Feeling he must be pretty desperate to be out in this weather, I rolled down my window and handed him the $2.00 cash I had just gotten. He took it and said “Thank You”.
“It’s pretty rainy and chilly out here today” I said, making conversation as the light was still red.
Though he was soaked from head to foot he smiled and said it was better than a hot sunny day and that he would rather be wet from rain than sweat.
Even so, I told him there was a thrift shop in town where he might be able to get a raincoat free. He said he knew that but had to wait until next month to get his voucher.
The light turned green and I had to move on.
I called my daughter. “Do you happen to have a raincoat at your house that no one is using?” I asked.
“Just that green one you gave me last summer” she replied.
Ah, the Green Raincoat. I had found it in a box marked “Free” at a yard sale I was at this summer. I took it with me that day thinking my daughter or someone in our family could use it, but no one had. It had just hung on a hook waiting for this time in life. It’s purpose had been found. It was going to someone who really needed it.
The young man smiled as I returned and and gave him the raincoat.
“You have a Blessed Day” he said, as he put on the green raincoat which fit him perfectly.
Unwanted and discarded
Have you ever felt that way?
Banished, set free
Judged unworthy by those
Who don’t see your value
You go through life hanging ‘round
Waiting and hoping
The day will come when you
Are noticed, needed
Choka
Leonas Lines--Poetry Plus 