He was just another bum on the street. Homeless, drunk, crazy. At least, that’s how he would have appeared to outsiders. Sitting on a street corner spelling out ominous-looking words in coin, those who hurry by during their daily commute would think nothing of it. It was only when someone sat down to talk with the man, to understand what it was he was doing, that true understanding began to emerge.
This is a story told through the lens of a couple of friends. I’m telling because I believe there’s value in sharing it with you.
See, my friends didn’t walk on by the homeless man like every other person hurrying along their day. They were travelers, visitors to the city, and saw this man through a very different lens than those who pass by him every day. They stopped and asked the man, “What is it you’re doing here?”
“Oh, well it’s nothing really, I’m just trying to teach people a lessons here.”
“And what lesson is that? Why do you spell out words like ‘Greed’ and ‘Depression’ in coin?” My friends pressed.
“Well, I’m trying to show people that money is the root of all evil. It causes so many of the ailments I spell out here, so I thought, ‘Why not illustrate the problems money causes using money itself?”
My friends let this sink in for a minute.
“That’s quite the message,” one of them said after a while. “Have you ever thought about teaching this to more people? Have you ever thought about giving a presentation on this to others? This is true art!”
The man thought for a while. “No, I guess I hadn’t thought of that,” he said.
“How about you let us give you some money to help you get by for now?” my friends said.
“Oh no, I couldn’t take your money,” said the homeless man. “I’d just use it for booze. Your company and conversation has been more than enough for me.”
…that. That right there. Do you freakin’ understand the significance of that answer?! Here is a man, a human being, who spends the majority of his day trying to communicate a message, one that is ignored by the vast majority of people who pass by.
So many people whip by the man each day that it comes as a surprise when someone actually stops to have a real conversation. And isn’t that true for all of us? How often do we break free from our hustle-and-bustle daily routine to have a real conversation with a stranger? When is the last time you can say you did that? When is the last time you saw your city, and the people around you, with the wonder of a tourist?
I’m sitting here getting worked up as I write this, because I know exactly how common it is. I’m guilty of it myself. We get into our routines, and then ignore anything that strays even slightly off that path. In reality, that’s where the wonder lies. That’s where the stories happen, where the memories are made.
It’s not in doing what we know and feel comfortable with. It’s in getting off the beaten path. Gettig out of our comfort zone. Having a conversation with a stranger. Having a conversation with a homeless man. Because everyone has something to say, and a story to tell… and the only way you’ll hear it is if you stop long enough to listen.
