He was all bent over-walkin with a limp and had sometype of duffle bag on his old hump back. Limpin along you could tell he was tired and had feet that hurt. His age was unknown because of the "40 miles of bad road" he'd endured in his life. A bunch of long braided hair reached to his waist. I saw him first uptown walkin by the driveway that I was fixin to turn into. He moseyed on, limpin along while usin a walkin stick to support himself. The old dude never looked up at me or anything else--just kept on walkin. A "still small voice" told me to inquire about his welfare but I was in a hurry and didn't really have time to stop. I finished my errand and headed the oposite direction to do some more errands. When those were done, I headed back towards home. I did stop at a local business to check on some information that was waitin there for me. While there---here he came again--walkin ever so slowly-west. [This "still small voice" was still there whisperin in my ear.] When I left that business the old dude was nowhere in sight and I knew he just HAD to be closeby. I turned down the road he was walkin on and found'm just about 100 ft west of the intersection. A rather large cedar tree is growin alongside the old highway he was walkin on---and there he was under it. I stopped the truck close enough that I could talk to'm. Asked'm where he was headed and he told me "57"--meaning I 57 which was about 30 miles west of our location. I aske'm if he was hungry [dumb question] and he said "YES"!!! I then ask'm if he had any money. He said he was so poor that he had nothing. The still small voice had already been heard and I felt so sorrowful for this old dude. He stunk to high heaven, was dirty and needed a bath real bad. He had also taken his old worn out shoes off and was restin those tired old feet. I can't put into words just how I felt. I, with so much and he with nothing! I couldn't take'm where he was goin-had to go on home then. I informed'm there was a gas station at Clay City, IL that sold food and it was about 5 miles ahead. I don't know where he was headed, if he had family there or anything else about'm. I did give him some cash [what I was LED to give him] and continued on my way. This wasn't the last I saw of him today! After headin home I left to go check on some equipment I was wantin to buy. When I was drivin down the highway--there he was slowly walkin west. I made my "run" about 30 miles south west and headed back. When I was headin east of Clay City, IL there he was just east of town. I can't relate how I feel right now. Sure, I'd helped some but what the man needed was a lot more than I gave. He needed a ride to Salem, a motel room where he could clean up and a bunch of food. After all that he needed a bus ticket to his destination. The way I'm feelin right now---he'll have just that tomorrow if I can find him! Oh, BTW, he could rent a motel room, eat and bought a ticket with the cash I gave'm. I'm not braggin at all--should've done more! He was a mannerly old black man and I can't help but wonder just how many other people ignored and were even mean to him. This is true and happened just this day. May Almighty God give him peace while he limps though life-headed to who knows where. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), October 26, 2000

Answers

Bless you for helping him. If God is willing, you'll be able to do more tomorrow, and if not, then it's out of your hands and in God's, which is not too bad a place at all.

-- Hannah Maria Holly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), October 26, 2000.

hoot, you are a living example to the rest of us. God Bless You. Wendy

-- Wendy@GraceAcres (wjl7@hotmail.com), October 26, 2000.

You did good, Hoot. Same kinda thing happened to me years ago and it still gets me to think of it. I kinda feel these things might get put before us to wake us up;we get so wrapped up in our daily life.I was at a fast food place one day when I had to go to the big city, and had been broke a long time but had finally just got paid. This dirty lookin homeless guy showed up, and was just sittin around scribbling on some papers he had; didn't seem to have the money to eat.After I was done eating and getting in my car, I saw him approach a well dressed man and try to sell the papers in his hand for the price of some food.When I realized what he was doing I almost just left the place because I was scared by the looks of him and I had my baby with me.But for once I had some money in my pocket... I got out of the car and went and asked him if he was selling pictures. I lied and said I had seen him drawing and thought they were good. He was pretty shocked but sold me all that he had done.I think I gave him five bucks. I beat myself up for not giving him more and cried about it for about two years.The pictures that he had drawn actually were very good, drawn on a few envelopes he had found somewhere.I framed them to make me remember that talented young man living in a hell I can only guess at. When people ask about the envelope pictures I am glad to share the story.Not because I did anything, but because I almost didn't even try. It brings alot of perspective into your life and can really hit hard. I guess the thing that made me try was the well dressed man in a suit called him a scumball and pushed him out of the way. I don't know why I put all this here, except I remember feeling about the way you described. Good luck, and just remember it.

-- maureenb (firegirl102@hotmail.com), October 27, 2000.

Where did he go? I looked and never saw him this morning. I asked at the gas station that had food-I'd told'm about yesterday. They hadn't seen'm or heard of 'm. He was nowhere to be found in or around Clay City. I just didnt have time to drive over towards Salem or even Flora. It's puzzling to say the least. Maybe somebody picked'm up and carried'm to Salem.

After a sleep deprived night of tossin and turnin, I finally decided that what I did was probably not enough but then again-maybe I wasn't supposed to've done any more. Other people needs to do their part and if somebody robs'm of it then they miss out on a Blessing.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri Nov. 10-the Kingsmen and The McKameys at the arena for a concert. All those around would be blessed to attend. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), October 27, 2000.

Dear Hoot: Love your stories. Could this have been an angel in disguise? Or there, for the grace of God, go I? Thanks again for sharing. Please hear the McKameys for me. Their song,"God Of The Mountain," helped me through a lonely time. God Bless

-- Norma Lucas (trooper806@webtv.net), October 27, 2000.

Hoot the one most blessed will be you. As some of you know I am not having a really good time right now but I found out that one of my ex- coworkers was having outpatient surg today so I took over food that would only have to be heated to be warmed in the oven and served. I did this because I wanted to and knowing this lady knew that if it wasn't available even though she is to be on very limitied activity for the next 72hrs. and will not be able to work for a week. As a mother, wife and just being her she would have gotten up and fixed her faimily the meal that any one of them could have done but that is mom's job. I truely feel blessed that I was able to give to someone just as this forum has responded to me. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef123@hotmail.com), October 27, 2000.

Hoot, yes, you could have done more, but then again you did plenty as it was. Where ever he ended up, he had some kind words in his heart and some money in his pocket. You stopped and helped, how many other people passed by and did nothing except perhaps think to call the police to run him off. I think what you did was wonderfully kind, please don't beat yourself up over what you didn't do. Maybe another kind person gave him a ride, or he was having a nice hot shower in a motel room when you went looking for him again. Thank you for doing what you did. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), October 28, 2000.

Hoot, bless your heart for caring about another human being. It seems the world is so full of terrible acts, mothers abandoning their babies, teenagers killing another because he is gay, etc. To have someone actually do a kind act for a stranger is heartwarming and refreshing. Don't feel badly because you don't think you did enough. You did more than many would have. Hopefully someone else finished what you began and gave that old gentleman a ride. When my granddaughter was 4, I was bringing her home from Utah after a visit with my parents, and was just too tired to go on, so stayed in a motel for the night. In the morning, we went across the street and ate at Burger King. A middle aged couple came in, on foot, with just backpacks. The woman limped a little, and when they sat down, I noticed she was wearing only sandalls, without stockings, and it was quite cold. When we got up to leave, I gave the clerk some money and asked her to buy them breakfast, but not to tell them where it came from. My granddaughter asked why I gave that lady some money and didn't get anything back, but I really felt good that I could do a small kindness for them. Probably didn't mean much in the grand scope of things, but I would hope that if I were in their place, someone would do it for me. God bless ya, Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), October 28, 2000.

Jan, you also taught your granddaughter a wonderful lesson In caring that day.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), October 29, 2000.

Seems like I remember a story on America's Most Wanted or some such about a missing person. Just so happened to be a black older gentleman. I don't know if he's been found or not, but his family (if I remember correctly) was quite concerned about him. I think he had Alzheimer's or something...

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), November 02, 2000.

Update! I never found the old dude, never found anybody that had even SEEN him since I last saw him. I DID find out that he had been checked out by our local "fuzz" and apparently was ok. I'm still concerned about'm and wonder just who he is and where he's at. I should've aske'm more I guess but didn't figger it was any of my business. I SHOULD'VE made it my business and maybe more could've been done to help him get to his people. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), November 02, 2000.

Hi Hoot,I'll join you in prayer!May God almighty give him peace and watch over him wherever he may be.With God nothing is impossible,I pray he'll make a special place for this dear man.Bless you hoot,thanks for your stories,~~~Tracy~~~

-- Tracy Jo Neff (tntneff@ifriendly.com), November 03, 2000.