Reflecting in Hawaii

Reflecting in Hawaii, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

I took a long walk on the beach tonight on Oahu. While headed back to my $110/night hotel, about 100 yards from the Waikiki Yacht Club, I came across one of the many homeless that call the streets of Honolulu home. I had seen this same 60ish year old gentlemen a few nights ago, in the same place, sleeping against a wall right across from the multi-million dollar Hawaii Convention Center.

He looked up and asked for a dollar for some food. I was on the way to the 7-11 so I brought him back a bag of food. A sandwich, some granola bars, a few bananas...the kind of thing we often would never think might make a difference. The kind of thing most of us would wolf down while watching some TV, comfy in our living room. But to him, it did make a difference. And the appreciation was obvious.

To me, it reminded me that any of us could be in his place. A little bad luck, a bad year, a failed business, no prospects for work, no help from the government. It reminded me that to many of us, ten bucks worth of food is a snack. A meal. To him, it was more than that. Might have been his only meal today. Might have to last him through tomorrow, if no one helps...just keep walking.

To me, it is reminder that nothing is for sure. Nothing is given, except that we all have a wall waiting for us. A doorway to sleep in. A sidewalk to watch the people just walk on by, headed to the beach..headed to their yacht... headed to their meeting or hairdressing appointment.

Sure, tomorrow I might walk the same way towards the beach, and Magic Island and the Yacht Club. But I won't be able to just walk on by.

Would you?