The Return of What’s Given
My first night back in the city I love, I was reminded of how much I love this life. As I sat on the subway with my suitcase, listening to my music and reading signs about how to help the homeless, I exchanged a moment of gratitude with one.
His voice overpowered the one being piped in through my headphones when he started belting out the lyrics to Lean On Me. Walking the length of the train, his message resonated as he approached.
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
’Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Grateful for the reminder that I’m not in it alone, I wanted to repay the favor. I knew without looking that I only had one thing on me to give him, which seemed fitting. A five dollar bill I’d been using in a gratitude practice. On a post-it stuck on the front, my scrawl declared — I’M GRATEFUL FOR EVERY DOLLAR I’VE BEEN GIVEN ACROSS MY LIFE.
Folding it in half with my message still on it, I stuck it in his cup. Glancing down, he saw how much he’d been given and then immediately looked up to the universe to say, “Thank You, Jesus.” Happy to have given him a moment of happiness, I was satisfied with our exchange. Then, in that same second, the voice in my ear sang, “It’ll all come back to you.” Shaking my head in amazement, I smiled at those above who were watching and thanked them for that reminder.
This experience. This city. This life. This love. This universe. I’m grateful for all of it.
