The Kindness of Strangers - Is all some people have left.

I was at the gas station today. There was a man who was standing near the front door holding a gas can. He was dressed in nice casual clothes and looked as though he were waiting for someone inside the store. Slowly as if forcing himself, he began to walk out to the pumps one foot in front of the other.

Seemed more like he was about to step on stage in front of a huge audience. He appeared to be mortified.

He was probably wondering what the "blank" he was doing in this situation. He didn't look like he was used to begging.

He approached me and asked, "Can you spare some gas?" He looked so uncomfortable holding an empty gas can asking strangers for help.

I had just finished putting the last of the gas I had already paid for and was closing up the cap. I would have gladly given him some gas. I was about to give him a couple of dollars when another guy (who must have overheard) came back out from inside the store and said that he had just paid for $3 and pointed to the pump for the guy to go to.

With relief and gratitude the guy said, "Oh, thank you so much!" and rushed over and began filling his gas can.

I thanked the other guy for helping this man. It seemed as if he got the same feeling that I did.

Sometimes people need help and have to rely on the kindness of strangers.

With the state of our economy and the housing crisis, we are seeing more and more regular folks like you and me struggling to survive.

The polititians may be saying we're not in a recession but to me it seems much worse. I don't remember a time when it was this bad. To me it feels like a depression.

People are being laid off from jobs and even in some industries such as custom cabinet shops the owners are closing shop and looking for work outside the industry. I know about this because someone close to me was laid off and this is what he is finding out as he looks for work.

As real estate professionals, we see homes that have been taken by the bank with the people's belongings still in them. We wonder what happens to these families. They don't go dancing off into the sunset, that's for sure.

Harsh reality has hit and it's a reality that hits close to home because these are our neighbors, our friends and sometimes even us.

Today I experienced first hand someone who did NOT look like he was used to asking strangers for help needing help to the point that he was willing to put his pride aside. It was a humbling experience.

Photos Courtesy of Flickr

I hope and pray that our economy recovers sooner than later.

Sincerely,