This morning was just like most any other … crawl out of bed at 5AM, head for the fitness center, work out for an hour, head home for breakfast, then off to the office. However, on this morning, July 26, 2011, I experienced one of those “conversations with God” experiences.
I had stopped for gas … while filling the tank I observed a middle age black man approach a car driven by another African American, apparently asking him a question whereupon that car drove away. Assuming this unshaven man in stained, bedraggled clothes was asking for money,it did not surprise me when I was approached. What did surprise me was his request … a request I give him a ride to his job. In my mind having already concluded he was not be trusted, or was too dirty or that I was not going his way, or I didn’t wish to be bothered I easily declined, cleared my conscience and stood there filling my tank with $3.60 per gallon gas as this poor man walked away.
Then the “God experience” hit me … I simply could not take my eyes off of this man as he crossed the bridge over the freeway and disappeared on the sidewalk past the Little Rock Zoo. Wow, now I’m really feeling conflicted … should I have agreed to take him to work, does he truly need help, should I go pick him up … what should I do. Sure there are the concerns for safety but I am having these nagging nudges to go pick him up and take him to work. So, I get in the car, still struggling and pull into the traffic lane that will put me on the freeway leaving him behind … but, no, I cannot just drive away, that “God conversation” is still going on in my head and in a split moment as the light changes, I change lanes confident I am making the correct decision … that is, to pick him up and take him to his job.
So, I picked him up, found he had already walked all the way from Southwest Little Rock, is semi homeless living sometimes with a relative, his car is in the shop and yet… this maintenance man, this misjudged person has the character, determination, personal dignity and pride to make it to his job even if he has to walk all the way across town. Now, that’s a real local hero … my hat is off to you, Mr. K. Goins … Bravo and thank you for touching my soul today.
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Jim Dailey 