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  • Writer's pictureReuben Berger

The Man at the Gas Station

Updated: Jan 15, 2023

I was filling up at a gas station I rarely go to.

A man came up to me and said that he was trying to get his next meal

and he asked me for a bit of change.

I handed him a ten dollar bill looking into his eyes for a moment.

Perhaps it was the first time in a long time someone really acknowledged

the humanity within him that is no different than you and I.

Some say the homeless have addiction issues,

who doesn't?


A moment later

a man in a car rolled his window down

and said, “You gave him too much ~ drugs.”

I didn't respond but for a moment I doubted what I had given him.

Isn't it interesting how other people could see things.

Perhaps that moment when I looked into his eyes

gave him a hope

to carry on.

Perhaps earlier that day he didn't know

if he was going to make it through another day.

Perhaps the money I gave him and the acknowledgement

was what truly made his day, perhaps week or year,

giving him a bit more strength to carry on.

Perhaps tomorrow he'll meet someone

who has an extra room and

may even cook him

some lovely meals

It is written in one of the most recited prayers in Judaism,

The Shema,

And you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart

and with all your soul, and with all your means (resources).


~ Deuteronomy 6:5


We should help each other by sharing the resources that we have as much as possible.


If you have a spare room, you could save a homeless person.


No one really knows how far a simple act of kindness could go.

The more love you put out into the world, the more beautiful it all becomes.

The truth about giving is perhaps best summed up by this Pearl of Wisdom:

A little fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses

People flock to the self help books and gurus

not realizing that one of the key aspects of helping yourself

is to help others in any way you can like a smile

or a friendly nod.


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