Compassion and the Five Dollar Bill

  Unless you have lived under a rock for the past few weeks you have seen and read the story of NYC Police Officer Larry DePrimo’s gift of thermal socks and boots to a shoeless and homeless man in Times Square. His kindness was gesture of pure goodwill. It was born from his sense of what is right and wrong. This was a gift from an Officer and a Gentleman who continues to carry the receipt for those boots and socks in his shirt pocket. Ironically it resides under his bullet proof vest.  He said, the receipt reminds him that he is a fortunate man.

  Officer Deprimo’s selflessness reinforces the notion that compassion does reside within each and every one of us.  We feel it, know it, taste it and yes, above all else, we believe in it.  Compassion is born from a deep stirring within.  It is a call to right a wrong or make a situation easier or at least, a little better for someone else. We understand that as humans we are bound, we are stitched together by a thread called life.   

  For me the last several weeks at work have been busy, well actually, nonstop.  I have been unable to take a short break for lunch no less a full hour.  Today I was planning on driving one town over in the direction nearer to where I live.  There is a Chase Bank there and I needed to make my daughters car payment and also process a deposit for the Volunteer Fire Department for which I am the treasurer. 

  In life there are no accidents, only what should be.  Today was no exception.

  After having a quick bowl of soup for lunch I put on my coat and began to head out my office door. But something stopped me and told me to instead prepare a bank deposit for work.  We use remote deposit scanners for our deposits, but in the event that we receive a Canadian check or cash I have to take those to the actual bank branch.  I had three small Canadian checks sitting on my desk for just about a week.  I returned to my desk, prepared the deposit and decided to head in the opposite direction.  I could still do my personal and Fire Department banking at a Chase branch and then take a quick ride down the road to TD Bank and make the work deposit.  The items that I had planned on picking up at the grocery store the next town over I could purchase at Target just a short drive from TD Bank.

    So this is what I did. After depositing the Canadian checks at TD Bank I stopped at Target.  All I really needed were a few plastic food containers.  I had made a double batch of creamed onions and planned on sharing them with a friend who loves them too.  Of course as I walked towards the grocery section and passed the store displays my mind was filled with other ideas of what to purchase.  I needed some Christmas cards, gift bags and candy canes.  I placed all of these items in my shopping cart.  At that moment I spotted the perfect Christmas tree ornament for my dog.  No, he is not actually mine.  I borrow him on Thursday nights.  He belongs to my dear friend but he pretends to be mine for a few hours a week. (And really, I am not an animal fan, but Seamus has stolen my heart!) Of course to go with the tree ornament I needed a treat for my dog.  Seeing me shopping in the pet section is totally the definition of “a fish out of water”.  After picking up and putting back down several varieties of bones and treats I settled on the filet migon flavor…..nothing is too good for my Thursday night dog!

  Shopping for a plastic food container cost me $32.72.  As we walk the isles of the stores they seem to contain so very many things that we must have, but do we really need them?   Walking towards my car I was enthralled by the sky.  At points the clouds were wispy and at other times, dense.  I noticed one spot where the sun was trying to shine through and there were rays of color appearing around a cloud.  Of course intrigued, I snapped a picture. I put my bags in the car and drove towards the exit. 

  The exit from the shopping plaza contains two lanes.  One is for making a right hand turn the other for making a left hand turn.  The incoming and outgoing lanes are separated by a concrete divider.  I was the second car in the far right lane waiting to make a turn, nothing unusual.  Suddenly I caught a glimpse of what was standing on the divider.  It was a man, a young man in his mid-twenties or so.  He was wearing a brown jacket and his head was covered by a hood.  Flowing from beyond his hood was his wavy dirty blond hair, and dirty does not solely describe the color but the condition.  His face was scruffy with unkempt facial hair and in his hands he held a brown cardboard sign with black letters that said:

                                                 “Hungry and homeless, please help.”

  I thought of my two bags containing $32.72 worth of nonsense.  Really?  I reach for my wallet. I do have some cash.  I pulled out a five dollar bill folded it over, rolled down the car window and waved it in the young man’s direction.  As he approached my car that momentary fear swept over me. Would he try to hurt me?  He extended his hand to accept my gift and I noticed his hands.  He was wearing gloves but the finger tips were worn out and they left his fingers exposed.

  I handed him the five dollar bill.  Gratefully, he looked into my eyes and said. “Thank you Mam’ and God bless you.”

  I couldn’t verbally respond.  I looked back into his dark brown eyes, pursed my lips, smiled and nodded.  The lump in my throat was too large to allow words to pass beyond it.   Within his gaze was simply sincerity.  This exchange occurred just a very few miles from a city riddled with crime and ruled by drugs.   Many would jump to the conclusion that this young man may be collecting handouts to support a habit.  This, of course is a possibility, but lies cannot be conveyed by honest eyes.  They speak from the soul, they tell truths.
 Although the exchange between us lasted just a few moments, I replayed it over and over again in my mind.  I kicked myself for not giving more.  I could have. I should have.  As I drove back to work I thought of turning my car around, of giving more, but tied to my work obligations I did not. 

  Tonight as I am enjoying the lights on my Christmas tree sparkle, flash and flicker. I think of him.  Where is he sleeping? As he lays his head down is his stomach full, satisfied or empty?  My fingers are warm and nimble as they tap upon the keys of my computer.  I think of him and his fingertipless gloves. His fingers are most likely not warm and definitely not nimble.  Probably they are cold and brittle. At this moment, I am sending him peace, love and compassion.

  We all take things for granted and complain about what is wrong or lacking within our lives.  It is human nature to do so.  Each of us is living from, and within our own perspectives.  And sometimes the view from where we “see” life is distorted. The next time you spend $32.72 or any amount on a few bags of nothingness, or filler items, think about what amount could give to someone who is struggling to survive.  Much like Officer Deprimo and his receipt, from this day forward each time I hold a five dollar bill in my hand it will remind me to dig a little bit deeper, to look a little further within, and ask myself…..could I do more.