Today before my HUMS 102 class I was on my way to Indy after eating lunch with Amos, we just had a quick bite at the local McDonalds at Mt.Comfort Rd. I was on the on ramp when i slowed to see a man looking for a ride. There was something about his eyes that had me stop, they spoke to me of humanity. HIs name was Mike, he is 54yrs old and a Widower. He had a green army duffle bag he got at a surplus store to carry his worldly belongings, and he wore a brown duck cloth carhart jacket, jeans, and winter boots. He didnt smell but i wasnt worried about that.
We spoke about why he is homeless and how long he has been like that. (3yrs currently, but as a 6th grade dropout, with a GED, the only time he claims to have had a "HOME" was when he was married for 14yrs. His wife died in 1995 of cancer of the nervous system. Since then he has tried to be 'tied down' but he just cant.
He has had his belongings stolen a few times, and had to start over even more then that, but he says being homeless has freed him. He was the most though provoking person i have talked to in a while. We talked about how people have stopped nurturing their children in persuit of things, when kids need love and attention more then toys. We talked about the election, health care bill, Veterans, my choice of career field, homelessness, drugs (he avoids drugs and alocohol), "service organizations" like soup kitchens (he doesnt go for handouts), weapons, (he doesnt carry or condone violence), war (his nephew served and he is proud of his vets).
The most important was his views on materialistic things. He only carries when he needs, and gives what he can to others worse off then him.
He has traveled coast to coast 4 times, and makes his rounds of Indiana once a year depending on the season/weather.
His smile was sincear, coffee & nicotine stained teeth grinning back to me. He even offfered me some money for the ride. I declined Thanking HIM for helping me ponder things i was already dealing with.
My point is, yes i know that picking up people can be dangerous, but i didnt have my kids with, and my spirit was calmed by him. He was possibly my angel in disguise. I could of easily drove past even not stop or drive off when he started to walk to me. But i trusted myself that my judge of character and for that I am rewarded by this conversation.
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