Words of a Street Prophet

and how I got there

I was on my way somewhere (when am I not?).  The old man looked thin, frail.  Sitting in a wheel chair at the parking lot entrance of an up-scale grocery store, wearing a mask, he dozed in the chilly October sunshine. I felt sorry for him. I was glad he didn’t see me drive by.  

How could I drive by him?  He looked so vulnerable!  Nonetheless, I drove by him. I couldn’t look at him.  I needed to pay attention to the traffic. I took a left, then maneuvered into the right lane.

“That’s the problem,” I thought to myself.  “Always a reason.  I always need to pay attention to something.  I’m always busy.  One time it’s not safe; another, I’m late; and then there is the feeling that the issues are so complex….  Why even try?.….. 

A vision of humanity in the process of becoming flashed into consciousness.  In one micro-second: “We’re not done yet. We are becoming something better. We are what we do.”

I reset my frame of reference. I wasn’t the “fixer.” All that was needed was to be true in my actions to the vision, a vision of harmonious life.

I instructed myself, “The question isn’t whether I can ‘fix’ anything.  The question is whether I can relate to the context of another human being.”  

It wasn’t too late.  How could I just drive by?  I could go back.  

My ‘rational’ voice persisted with a new objection: “But I would be driving in circles…”  

Hearing that startled me.  I laughed!  

What did I think?  Did I have the illusion that I was going somewhere? As if my life wasn’t one circle after another.   What cost was a moment and a few dollars to me versus the value another may receive simply by being seen? 

I took my right turn, and looked.  I paid attention. The way was clear.  Nothing to hinder me from making a u-turn.

I drove back into the parking lot.  I stood before him.  “Excuse me,” I said.  He opened his eyes and lifted his head.  I pressed some cash into his hand.  He looked at it briefly, and then at me. 

His eyes were remarkable, thin rims of a blue as deep as the Colorado sky.  He started speaking.  His speech sounded like some ancient prophet, chanting psalms of thanks and praise.  His words made me smile.  

The lines I remember were riddles.  “His name is I” and “My name is You”.   I laughed and said, “My name is You, too!”

As I was leaving he said something like, “Pay attention to the vowels:  a, e, i, o, u!   Ae, i o u.  All lower case.”

I’m happy I took a u-turn.  Sometimes turning back is the way forward.

αμήν αμήν αμήν αμήν αμήν αμήν αμήν