Black High Top Shoes

In a world where there is so much selfishness, it is always great to see people who are willing to serve others in a way that is genuine and powerful.

While watching the television series Secret Millionaire, John the millionaire met a man named Amin who ran a thrift store where he receives donations and puts together hygiene kits and distributes them to the homeless on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

While passing out the kits he noticed a man using a walker and wearing shoes that had human excrement on them.  The man explained that he had accidently stepped in it after someone had relieved himself or herself.  Without batting an eye, Amin took off his nice black high top shoes and gave them to the man.  The man was overwhelmed by this gesture and after putting them on he said they were just what he needed and expressed his gratitude.  With Amin’s help, the old man got up and went on his way, one step at a time, wearing his new black high top shoes.

The millionaire, who was incognito, observed this selfless act and was completely blown away and began to weep.  He could not believe what he had just witnessed.  You see, in his world he has been insulated from the needs of the common and the poor.  However, after this experience he committed to getting out of himself and helping others who are struggling in life.

Although not on the same level as the story above, I recently had a similar response from a lady at the post office.  I had to mail a package out of the country and found that the area where the customs forms were kept was completely empty.  I went to the counter and informed the postal worker who asked if I would restock the forms.  I did without hesitation.  After completing the form I got back into line and a lady at the counter was in the process of looking for the trash can.  I asked her if I could throw the trash she had in her hand away, and she thanked me.  It was nothing big.

After I got to the counter the postal worker said, “I noticed what you did, you restocked our forms and threw away the trash for the lady in the line, no one does that.  It is very unusual; no one wants to help others anymore.”

There are so many ways we can serve each other, giving someone in need a pair of black high top shoes, restocking forms or just throwing away trash for someone.  With so much going on all around us we must never get so busy that we won’t help each other.

Small gestures can have a HUGE IMPACT in the life of the person who receives the help or observes someone helping someone else.