“This is Jesse, he is a drifter who lives near the bridge in my area. He owns nothing but a bike, a bird and a bag of about 10 items!
Yesterday, while I was riding my bike down around the beach – which is about 3 miles from my house – I got a flat tire. I had no choice but to turn around and wheel my bike the long walk home.
A few people rode past and didn’t really pay me any attention and I didn’t expect them too, but as I started walking, headphones in my ears, I noticed the homeless guy from under the bridge saying something to me.
At first I thought he was going to ask me for something so I popped my headphones out and asked him what he wanted? He then replied “I don’t want anything- but I’ve got a new tube in my bag and you can have it if ya want!”
Shocked at first I said no thanks but he insisted. So I walked over to his little clearing where he had his things and his pet bird sat in a busted cage.
He opened up his empty bag and gave me the tube (which was one of the very few things he had) helped me change the tire, even pumped it up! I asked him how I could pay him back and he said to me “don’t worry about it, this is what it’s all about!”
The enormity of his situation and the fact that he went out of his way to help me was so humbling, I mean this guy was willing to give me his stuff and didn’t want anything in return. To you and I, a bike tube would probably not mean much but to a guy with so little this item must hold enormous value!
I could go on and on about how selfless this guy was to give me, a total stranger, clearly in a much better position than him some of his possessions, while people like us are so selfishly attached to all our useless crap.
Anyway I just wanted to show you a pic of Jesse with his new Versace lenses, some fresh Sneakers, a full belly and a cold beer… Felt good to do something for him. I also went up to our local fast food chain and got him a couple weeks worth of food and some seed for his bird…
Man he was ecstatic even had tears in his eyes and couldn’t thank me enough, but amidst me sitting there proud of my good deed, and him singing me praises, I suddenly felt pretty bad because the truth is if he didn’t go out of his way to help me, I wouldn’t of done anything for him.
I ride past this guy all the time and never even think twice!
Really knocked me off my high horse!
Even tho we sit around with all our materialistic needs and pass judgment, this dude has something that none of us can buy!
I guess what I’m trying to say is thanks for the lesson in humanity champ!”
Credit: Tony Biggs
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