He said, "Mighty Kind, Thank you!"

A Month ago I was in Lincoln for a family event. I stopped at the former Burwells gas station, now Thorton Oil, to use the ATM and get some cash. I pulled $80 out of the machine and was going to get some singles to stuff in family members envelope for a wedding gift.

As I was in line, I noticed the homeless guy, yes... I said 'the' homeless guy, who always has his bike with him. Except lately I hadn't seen his bike. As far as I know, he is the only openly homeless person in Lincoln. He was looking through the cheap bags of dollar candy and I noticed he had a single dollar in his hands.

Many times I have seen him, most times hanging at the car wash scavenging for change and cigg butts by the waste cans. A couple of times I would leave piles of change on the ledge by the vacuum after vacuuming my car. This day was different. I know exactly why I did, what I did next. I live by a code, if you will, that has been the core of the compassion within me. In Proverbs, it says to "withhold not, good from those to whom it is do, when it is the power of your hand to do so."

Without thinking about it, I took one of the twenty dollar bills, folded it, and walked over to him. In a quietly confident voice I said "hey brother, here you go..." and I held out the bill. At first he didn't acknowledge me, probably not sure I was talking to him, but as I stood there, not moving and gently looking at him, he gazed up, smiled, and said "mighty kind, thank you."

I have seen this man in Lincoln for almost 15 years and never once spoken to him, and hardly ever saw him speak to anyone. But you know what? he had a great smile.