Om Sri Sai Ram
I had the pleasure of working various jobs and meeting people from all walks of life people who were wealthy, average middle class people, lower income group and extremely poor people and finally homeless people.
When I was attending school in New Delhi I had class mates who were well to do and a few who were extremely poor. For some reason I would always be around only the poor and share my lunch with them as others looked down on them. One day my father saw me and said “ why are always hanging out with them and looking down. I said if I keep looking down chances are I would not fall in the ground in front of me but if I keep looking up for sure I will fall in the hole.
In the year 1985-98had a grocery store/ Delicatessen in Time square, Newyork 42nd street and 9th Avenue. It was open 24 hours and met people from all over the world. We ran 2 shifts of 12 hours and open 7 days a week and 365 days a year. The store was adjacent to Port Authority Bus terminal all interstate buses would come and the police station as well as the post office was all located nearby.
I had a partner from Pakistan as I used to drive the bus for a inter state company and on my time off would work in the store afternoon shift from 1pm to 12midnight. In the evening or late night homeless people would come especially in the winter time to get warm from the outside weather and get some hot beverages. My partner didn’t have any empathy for the poor people and was harsh with his words and they would always wait for me to start my shift. There was one person who I would call as Mr. Cuba as he was from that country and exiled due to the political crisis to the United States. He would pay for the coffee in loose change and knew he must have gathered by picking it up on the street. As days went I had a good relationship with him and asked him to sit in the store a space which wasn’t occupied so he can enjoy the coffee. I would ask him if he wanted something to eat? He replied I have no money. No problem I will pay for you and give you any amount of food anytime Not to affect the business or anyone saying I am giving away food as I have to set a good example to the employees and partner.
In the evening after the day is over the Newspaper have to be returned and accountable for and would cut the top heading and throw the rest in recycle. Mr. Cuba Sir,
Can I see the Newspaper? Sure ! And I handed him the paper and my partner came in and said? What you homeless guy now you are going to read the New York Times, drink coffee and sit down and eat your dinner here. Tomorrow he will give you a place to sleep. I said please don’t disrespect anyone not knowing their circumstance. One day I asked Mr. Cuba where do you sleep every night? He said in the movie theater nearby. Where do you get the money? I find lottery tickets that people overlook and redeem and go and sleep in the theater to avoid the harsh weather. Where do you take a shower or do your morning chores? In the bus station.
What a difficult life? What makes people go and live life in these tough environments? I had a few other homeless people who were extremely educated and went crazy and left everything to live the life of street person.
One evening I gave him a full size sandwich with all the items he requested and said he could not stay back and talk. As he was passing by another a African American homeless man was watching him eat. He said I was scared and didn’t know what he was going to do and the man came closer and closer and said can I have your sandwich I have not had any food in a while. Mr. Cuba took half his sandwich and gave out and said looks like you’re more hungry than me please take it.
Mr. Cuba said “ Sir you’re a very loving and caring person May the lord always bless you “. Is the last words I heard from him. I didn’t see him for many months and enquired about him from other homeless people and police no body had any news regarding my friend Mr. Cuba. His entire belongings was in 2 brown bags that he carried with him.
One day a homeless and a blind person was standing in line and my partner said you don’t know where you standing? He said “ Sir I might be blind at least I know where I am going but you have two eyes and don’t know where you are going “?
Please respect people who are less fortunate than you are in a single movement life can turn around and you might be in the same situation. Do Good, See Good that’s the way to God.
Love All Serve All. Help Ever Hurt Never!!!
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