Madam – The plight of the homeless people have made headlines in the past year and for good reason.
So many of us walk past these men and women who society often forgets, and we barely spare a thought for their circumstances and choose instead to judge them for whatever bad decisions made them end up on the streets in the first place.
But there are a few people out there who have a heart and will do the right thing without expecting fame and glory. A few years ago I was working late. It was in the dead of winter and I was eager to get back home where I could have a hot shower and a warm meal before bed.
I had driven past many homeless people, some of whom banded together for warmth around a fire, but all I could think about was getting home. It never even occurred to me to think about those less fortunate people.
Driving down Murchison Street at 11pm, as most Newcastle residents know, is very quiet, so anything out of the ordinary immediately stands out. I saw a car ahead of me come to a stop outside one of the shops, and a man get out with bundles in his arms.
I first thought this man was trying to get rid of animals under the cover of night. I mean, our natural instinct in this country is to be suspicious. So I slowed down to watch what was going on, and those couple of minutes changed my life.
What the man did next has stayed with me ever since. In the shelter of the stores overhanging roof, there lay a group of homeless people. This man, after getting out of his car and checking that no one was watching him, walked up to this group of people and opened his bundle.
Out of it, he pulled several warm blankets, jackets and clothes, as well as tinned food, soup and bread. He woke the men up and indicated they should eat. Then, without a word, he got into his car and drove off.
This man’s small act of kindness changed the way I thought. In his humble gesture, I saw the beauty of humanity, and how the act of one person, can change or even save a life.
I urge all of you to think of this man (who I do know now, but would never ask for recognition) as the weather gets cooler and the hours grow shorter.
Think of this man, as I have thought of him over the years- as a human being who asked for nothing in return. As a humble Newcastillian just wanting to help a fellow human being.
Humbled
