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As we approach, linger and eventually wave goodbye to the holiday season each year, most of us have stories that stir up the holiday emotions in us. My childhood Christmases were always fun, or at least that’s how I remember them and now as a husband and father I’m blessed with a family making new wonderful memories each year. Loving this time of year is certainly not out of the ordinary, but neither are the struggles many folks face during these holidays.  Some of the struggles are obvious in the faces of the homeless or those who have lost loved ones. 

I see people holding signs at an intersection hoping a few dollars find their way into a pants pocket or a few french fries into a stomach. I often wonder what happened to these people in life that brought them to this place. Other people walk among us at work or even at home and fear the holidays without ever showing an outward sign of the stress and pain the holidays bring them.  

I want to share with you a true story regarding something that happened to me nearly 20 years ago in December and to this very day I cannot explain the how and why of it. It sounds a little crazy and as you read you will see why. 

I was working for a newspaper with its office located in Merrillville, Indiana. I was sitting at my desk when I received a phone call from our receptionist, Maribel. She told me there was a gentleman at the front desk requesting to speak to someone in management. I came forward and greeted the man. He began telling me how bad things were “out there” and that employment was nowhere to be found and he had children to feed. He asked me “what are you going to do about it?” I am quite certain the blank look on my face was not an indication of a miracle about to happen. He went on about not having Christmas presents for his children or food to feed them. He requested I write a story about helping those less fortunate. Being in the advertising department I had no control over editorial and knew this story was not happening any time soon. It was almost noon and I typically left the office for a quick lunch. I asked him if he drove his car to our office and he said he did not have one. I asked him where he lived, and he said a few miles away.  After a moment of contemplation, self-reflection and a silent prayer for my safety, I asked him to hop in my car.  We drove about a mile down the road to a large grocery store. Along the way he did not say much, even after I told him I was going to “help him out a little.” I parked the car, and we walked across a long parking lot side by side. Upon reaching the automatic glass door that was now open I gestured to him to go first and walk in front of me, however, he insisted I go first. It took me a few seconds to walk through and by the time I turned around, the man was gone. I quickly backtracked through the entrance and saw no one. Mind you, the entire front of the building was glass and there was nowhere to run or hide without me seeing him. My heart was pounding, and I could not make sense of the situation. Sound a bit crazy? You bet. Was this a magician or an angel? When I made it back to my office, I cautiously and carefully confirmed with Maribel that I did, in fact, leave with a gentleman. So, 20 years later I find myself writing that story about helping the less fortunate.  

A dollar may not seem like much, but to someone who has nothing, it’s everything. I would encourage everyone to help fill those red kettles this time of year or help support the many other wonderful organizations providing acts of kindness in our community and abroad. Finding people to give a worthwhile donation to is not difficult. Sometimes they find you.