Jerry
From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
By Debi Smith Pouliot

An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves.
~Lydia M. Child

I live in a small, rural town in Connecticut. In our town, a man, probably in his late forties or early fifties, is often seen wandering about town, usually pushing an old shopping cart. Sometimes, he is just walking slowly and carrying a plastic bag. His gait is stiff and labored. His clothes are rumpled and appear old. He picks up trash and bottles and cans that he finds for recycling. At first glance, most people assume he is homeless and most likely an alcoholic or drug addict.

I had my first good look at him one day when he was in the grocery store turning in the tickets he had collected for the five-cent recycled bottles and cans deposit. I noticed how the customers around him at the courtesy counter looked at him in disgust.

The weather that day was really nasty with a cold, driving rain. This man was soaking wet and the water was literally dripping off him. I was walking out of the store, and he turned to leave at the same time. Our eyes met, and I impulsively asked him if he needed a ride somewhere. He smiled genuinely and accepted gladly. He had goodness in his soul; I could feel it. (Keep reading)