I've been hesitant to tell this story. It sounds like boasting. This is not about me, and I don't want to be told how great I am. This is about other people.
2. On Friday night I drove up to Kansas City to jam with an old friend, as I often do.
I used to always give money to panhandlers on street corners, because I never had a job that miserable.
But the pimps ran all the homeless people off, and installed their older worn-out hookers
I used to always give money to panhandlers on street corners, because I never had a job that miserable.
But the pimps ran all the homeless people off, and installed their older worn-out hookers
3. as panhandlers.
I feel sorry for the hookers, but I don't give money to pimps.
(Don't ask me how I know. I've lived my life on the edge of small-time crime and I know how it works and who's doing what.)
I feel sorry for the hookers, but I don't give money to pimps.
(Don't ask me how I know. I've lived my life on the edge of small-time crime and I know how it works and who's doing what.)
4. Down on Kansas City's old east side I saw an old black guy sitting in the middle of a road, on an island, panhandling. I wasn't in his lane.
So I put my car in park, got out, walked over to him, gave him a $20, and said, "Here you are, sir."
So I put my car in park, got out, walked over to him, gave him a $20, and said, "Here you are, sir."
5. His gratitude was great and overpowering, but it wasn't because of $20.
It was because I treated him with respect.
He said so.
He told me I'd be in his prayers that night.
I don't think much of prayers, but I care about his. They will help me.
It was because I treated him with respect.
He said so.
He told me I'd be in his prayers that night.
I don't think much of prayers, but I care about his. They will help me.
6. To treat one another with respect is the greatest gift we can give.
He's old, he's poor, he can't get enough to live even a minimally decent life without begging. It's not his fault, not by my standards. It's the fault of a diseased economy and culture. He's as good as any us.
He's old, he's poor, he can't get enough to live even a minimally decent life without begging. It's not his fault, not by my standards. It's the fault of a diseased economy and culture. He's as good as any us.
7. If I'd given him one dollar, and treated him exactly the same, he would have been fully as grateful.
To be seen, as a real human, as a person due respect - we give it so rarely to those at the bottom. It is worth more than silver and gold.
To be seen, as a real human, as a person due respect - we give it so rarely to those at the bottom. It is worth more than silver and gold.
8. I have no power to fight racism save this one thing:
I see you. I respect you. I honor your life if you live it to your own best standards.
That's all I've got. This old man filled me with joy, just to be able to see him as my equal.
Be kind. Be respectful. Be gentle.
I see you. I respect you. I honor your life if you live it to your own best standards.
That's all I've got. This old man filled me with joy, just to be able to see him as my equal.
Be kind. Be respectful. Be gentle.
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