The Blind Angel and His Dog
Feeling harassed by Friday afternoon traffic, I drove into the supermarket parking lot to complete the last tedious errand of the day. I was immediately thrown out of my negative reverie by seeing a blind man standing on the side of the driveway with a beggar’s cup and red and white cane. He was dressed in black, looking dignified though threadbare. Lying beside him was a black Shetland sheepdog, one of my favorite breeds, wearing an orange work-dog shirt.
My heart did a somersault. Was it the dog or the blind man or the whole scenario? I pulled my car over, grabbed a $5 dollar bill and raced over to put this into his cup, as his sweet dog jumped up to greet me. The man with ‘God’ printed on his worn cup thanked me and blessed me. I don’t know what came over me, but I reached up to stroke his face as if reconnecting with a long lost lover or holy person. He was receptive and asked for a hug. He asked my name, spoke to me about his sister and complained about how someone yelled at him for using a “work dog”. However, I did not focus on his words, I just continued to hold onto his arm. He referred to me as an angel, but he was more of an angel to me. I was without words to express this and left bowing and blessing him and his beautiful dog.
In that brief interchange I was struck hard with unconditional love and compassion for someone sightless and without means. There but for fortune or karma go you or I. I was in tears as I got gas and wandered through Fry’s supermarket, conflicted with love and shame. It aggrieves me what abundance there is, how much we squander and how many do not get enough. This inequity felt absolutely unacceptable to me. And then, what is enough?
In contrast, I stopped at an upscale market three days before for a couple of low-end items and stood next to a woman at the check out paying $724 for two bags. These were not two bags of very expensive groceries but alcohol, one bottle of Scotch costing over $400! And I felt like a total cheapskate putting a $5 bill in the blind man’s cup when I had a wallet full of twenties.
How do we address these gross inequities? I just wanted to hold this man and his dog. I had a hard time letting him go, letting all those who suffer go so I can continue my life of plenty. I agonized about returning with more money or getting groceries for him. When I came out of the market and found him gone, I felt both saddened and relieved, my guilt temporarily assuaged. There was nothing more I could do now. Until the next person I encounter in need. Then what? Do I just put more money in the cup and walk away?
What if we could look directly into the eyes of poverty or suffering without turning away? How could we change things? How can each of us make a difference?
My heart did a somersault. Was it the dog or the blind man or the whole scenario? I pulled my car over, grabbed a $5 dollar bill and raced over to put this into his cup, as his sweet dog jumped up to greet me. The man with ‘God’ printed on his worn cup thanked me and blessed me. I don’t know what came over me, but I reached up to stroke his face as if reconnecting with a long lost lover or holy person. He was receptive and asked for a hug. He asked my name, spoke to me about his sister and complained about how someone yelled at him for using a “work dog”. However, I did not focus on his words, I just continued to hold onto his arm. He referred to me as an angel, but he was more of an angel to me. I was without words to express this and left bowing and blessing him and his beautiful dog.
In that brief interchange I was struck hard with unconditional love and compassion for someone sightless and without means. There but for fortune or karma go you or I. I was in tears as I got gas and wandered through Fry’s supermarket, conflicted with love and shame. It aggrieves me what abundance there is, how much we squander and how many do not get enough. This inequity felt absolutely unacceptable to me. And then, what is enough?
In contrast, I stopped at an upscale market three days before for a couple of low-end items and stood next to a woman at the check out paying $724 for two bags. These were not two bags of very expensive groceries but alcohol, one bottle of Scotch costing over $400! And I felt like a total cheapskate putting a $5 bill in the blind man’s cup when I had a wallet full of twenties.
How do we address these gross inequities? I just wanted to hold this man and his dog. I had a hard time letting him go, letting all those who suffer go so I can continue my life of plenty. I agonized about returning with more money or getting groceries for him. When I came out of the market and found him gone, I felt both saddened and relieved, my guilt temporarily assuaged. There was nothing more I could do now. Until the next person I encounter in need. Then what? Do I just put more money in the cup and walk away?
What if we could look directly into the eyes of poverty or suffering without turning away? How could we change things? How can each of us make a difference?
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