Gifts in the Rain (For the people of Haiti)

It was the spring of 1974 when I was driving down Indiana U.S. 52 and saw him hitchhiking. He had long curly hair, wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black jeans. I usually didn't pick up hitchhikers but it was raining. I was warm and dry in my car....he wasn't.

He was pretty wet when he quickly jumped in the car. He smiled with a little fear in his eyes and said,"Thanks man...I didn't think anyone was going to give me a ride." He told me that he came from Texas and his destination was Chicago. He needed to get to Interstate 74. My house was only a few miles from there and I told him I could take him to the Interstate.

He told me a heart wrenching story about how his mother had died and he was trying to get home for her funeral the next day. His father was a Corporate Lawyer and wouldn't offer him a dime to get home. His father wanted him to be a lawyer and he didn't. He hadn't been home for three years.

I asked him if he was hungry and he told me he hadn't eaten in a couple of days so we stopped at my house. All I had to eat in the refrigerator was bologna. He made two sandwiches and said that the bologna tasted better that any steak he'd ever had. He drank two glasses of milk and we were on our way.

I dropped him off at the Batesville exit. Before he got out, I gave him a twenty dollar bill and told him he might need it for food. I'll never forget what he said as he shut the door. With tears welled in his eyes, he said,"I will never forget this man...you don't know how much this means to me...I wish you peace."

I watched him walk towards the on ramp. The road was wet but the rain had given way to a little sunshine. I drove away hoping that he made it to his mother's funeral.

I was reminded of that day just recently. My family and I were driving home from Christmas dinner. A young man holding a sign that simply read,"Homeless" was standing at the end of the exit ramp. It was raining....he looked so cold and wet. As we approached him....I looked at my wife, Tammy....she was smiling and reaching for her purse. I asked her to get a twenty dollar bill and she did.

I rolled down the window and waved for him to come towards the car. As I handed it to him he said,"God bless you." I didn't say a word...I smiled and drove away.

In a span of more than 30 years, I helped out two young men....standing in the rain. It is strange that I gave them both twenty dollars. I can't tell you why I helped them. I could have made excuses and passed on by. I simply consider myself fortunate to have crossed the lives of two human beings who needed me to be in their path.

I wrote these reflections of my life down with the people of Haiti in mind. I have been unemployed for more than a year now...all I can do is write. I would write a masterpiece for them if my skills were as such. Maybe this little story could influence someone to send a little help....maybe twenty dollars? Ironically...looking out my window...it is raining.