A lesson in humility and grace

+A disabled black man and a cute kid+

I saw a man today on my way into the subway today.

He had no legs.

I compulsively felt the need to give him money. I’ve never felt so desperate a need to give in NY, but I just needed to that moment. I emptied out my wallet right then and there and out came a bunch of coins, lots of coins. I didn’t have any cash it turned out that day — but I would have given him every thing.

This man could have been my father, in another world, in another space.

He smiled gently up at me.

All I could muster as I stood up again was “have a good day sir”.

___________________________________________________________________

I step into the downtown 6 train. 1 stop into my commute and I spot an open seat — lucky me! I sit down next to a tubby, round, cute kid of maybe 8–10 years. Immediately my eyes turn towards his pants. They are really dirty, but I attempt to think better thoughts and assume that as a boy must just not give a care. But then, my eyes begin making their way down to the large plastic red bags at the seat of his legs, handles held fast by his chubby cute hands. There were 2 big boxes, one wrapped in a happy birthday wrapping paper and one wrapped in a Santa Claus wrapping paper.

The kid feels my prying eyes and I think he assumes I want more space. So he quickly/slowly, awkwardly, starts nudging away to meet my needs. I give him a quick reassuring glance and a little smile to assure him that I am a-o.k. He should stay put. He smiled back a little too, I think.

The boy and I exchange a couple more friendly, curious glances during our train ride together, and then he stands up to leave at presumably his destination. I find out then that he has a large family with him with similar bags of boxes, all wrapped in an extensive collection of wrapping paper themes and clothed in a similar state.

The subway doors open. As the kid makes his way to leave the subway car, he quickly looks back and makes sure to sign to a young gentleman (whose girlfriend was sitting opposite him on the other side) that the seat is now free.

The boy leaves.

I start to cry.