I don't know how this boy can convince his somewhat health conscious mother to pull into McDonald's and order him a Big Mac on occasion but he does and I do. (Organic purgatory here I come!)
On this evening we noticed a homeless man standing alone in the dark as we drove through the golden arches and ordered.
The sign he held simply said, "Veteran".
We decided to ask for two Big Macs.
"I want you to give this to that man Ben." I said, handing Ben the extra burger and nodding in the direction of The Veteran.
Ben looked shocked.
"Me!?...but what if...well, I don't know. I'm too embarrassed Mom."
"Honey, I know it's hard, but it's simple. That man is cold and hungry and we can help him, so we will. Don't be afraid. He is a man just like you. He was once a boy too....someones baby. We don't know what happened in his life and we don't need to know. We just to need to show him that someone cares."
"Okay mom." Ben says bravely.
I roll down Ben's window and watch.
Eye contact between man and boy. Youth and age. Reality and innocence.
The clash of generosity and humanity in just five seconds...
"Here you go." says Ben
"Oh, wow, Thank You!" says the Veteran with his toothless smile spreading wide behind scraggy beard.
That was it.
He salutes Ben and shouts, "God Bless America!"
and we say, "God Bless You!"
The gospel wrapped Big Mac in the hands of an innocent child and readily received by the humble Veteran? That's what I call beauty for ashes on Lancaster Boulevard.
every one is someones baby
