Props

Today in church my friend Heidi said that she gave Brad a hard time by saying I had written about him in my blog and that he was in trouble. Well, I hadn't written anything specific about him and I really don't want to get him in trouble (that happens often enough with me), but there is a story about him that I've wanted to tell and I guess this is as good a time as any.

Brad likes to be by himself. He will take off for a while whenever he feels the need. So, when we were on our trip, you can imagine that spending 24 hours a day with six other people probably made him a bit stir-crazy.

On our first night in New York after he and I walked around Times Square by ourselves and came back to the hotel, he announced that he needed to go out so we could have juice in the morning (riiight). So he left for an hour or so.

He wandered around Times Square for awhile and went into a pizza shop. He bought a pizza and was standing there eating it when someone else walked into the store. He wasn't dressed in rags and he didn't seem particularly dirty but he could tell that The Man wasn't the normal tourist. He looked like he was down on his luck.

The Man walked up to the counter and asked the guy working there if they had any food he could have. The guy said that it wasn't his call and that he would have to talk to the manager.

The manager talked to The Man. He wasn't rude or hostile but he was very firm in telling him that he couldn't give him any food. After all they were in the middle of Times Square and if you give food to one homeless guy, how many other homeless guys would come in for free food?

After talking to him for awhile, The Man asked if he could use the bathroom. The manager said no. (If one homeless guy uses your bathroom, how many other homeless guys will come in to use your bathroom?)

The Man asked for a cup of water. He was refused. He left the store looking defeated.

Brad followed him outside. He tapped the man on the shoulder and gave him ten dollars. Brad told The Man he could now go back inside and buy himself a slice of pizza. He didn't stay around to see if The Man went back inside.

Brad told me this story after we had gotten home and we had just seen a news story of pan handlers making up stories and deceiving well meaning people out of their money. He told me that he gave The Man some money because he wasn't asking for it but he was obviously hungry.

So Brad, props to you for showing true charity. I know that you didn't do it for recognition. But your kind heart and generosity toward those less fortunate is something I love very much about you.