"DON'T WE ALL?"

Sam was parked in front of Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City wiping off his pick up. He had just come from the car wash and was waiting for his wife to finish her shift at J.Jill.

Walking towards Sam from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum. From the look of him it appeared he had no car, no home, no clean clothes and no money. Sam thought to himself, there are times when you feel generous and other times you just don’t want to be bothered. Sam was having one of those don’t-want-to-be-bothered-times.

Sam was hoping the bum didn’t come ask him for money. Surprisingly he didn’t but sat down on the curb in front of the bus stop even though he didn’t look like he could have enough money to ride the bus.

Sitting on the curb about ten feet away he spoke to Sam; “That is a very nice truck.” He looked ragged like a bum but had an air of dignity around him Sam thought.

Sam replied; “Thanks,” and continued wiping off his truck.

The ragged looking man sat there quietly. The expected solicitation for money never came. The silence between Sam and the stranger expanded when Sam heard his inner voice tell him to ask the man if he needs any help. Sam was sure the man would say yes but held true to his inner voice and asked; “Do you need any help?”

The ragged looking man answered Sam in three simple but profound words which Sam shall never forget. “Don’t we all?”

Sam was blown away at the simple but profound response since he was expecting an outstretched grimy hand wanting money. Once Sam got his brain refocused, he realized that yes, we all needed help, including Sam. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep but he needed help in his marriage, raising his kids and dozens of other struggles in his own life. Heck, Sam realized he needed help in being kinder to his fellow man, ragged looking or dressed to the nines.

Sam reached into his wallet and gave the ragged looking man enough money for bus fare, couple hot meals and shelter for the night.

Those three little words, “don’t we all” still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, we all still need help.

No matter how little you have, no matter how burdened you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can still help. Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that or give someone a silent prayer.

Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise to minister to a soul too comfortable in himself.

Maybe someone looked down, called an angel, dressed him like a bum, and then said, "Go minister to that man cleaning the truck, that man needs help."

”Don’t we all?”

God uses the word “hand” almost two thousand times in His Good Book. Hand is a biblical symbol for helping, healing, worshiping and praising to name a few. It is also used in defeating enemies and defending your honor.

God also teaches us His “hand” made each of us (Isaiah 66:2), His “hand” calms our fears and strengthens us (Isaiah 41:10), His hand holds us to protect us and keep our souls safe (Psalms 63:8), His “hand” will defeat our enemies (Psalms 138:7), His “hand” heals us of our sickness and ailments (Ezekiel 33:22, 2 Kings 4:34, Mark 6:5, Mark 8:25, Luke 13:13), His “hand” will make us prosperous (Deuteronomy 30:9, Jeremiah 29:11), and His “hand” will help us do anything and everything if we just ask Him. (Philippians 4:13)

Ask yourself this simple question: What does the Main Man upstairs want more than anything? He wants us to trust Jesus so we can be seated with Jesus at God’s right hand of His throne. (Matthew 22:44, Psalms 110:1, Hebrews 1:13)

Regardless of what your needs are, God has His hand extended to help, heal, protect and prosper you if you will ask Him. At the same time, God wants us to help those who have needs and can’t help themselves. It doesn’t matter if it is someone you have known for decades or a complete stranger. God helps us when we help others.

Likewise, if life has your back slammed up against the wall with a choke hold on you, remember God’s promises to you; First, God promises to work everything for the good, (Romans 8:28), Second, God promises to always have your back, (Isaiah 52:12) Third, God promises no one can ever snatch you out of His hand! (John 10:29)

Heavenly Father, we are all sinners and we all need help. We need Your hand to guide us through the land mines of life. When we step on one of life’s land mines, we need Your hand to pick us up, heal us, strengthen us, calm us, protect us and make us better than before. Thank You for wanting each of us to sit at Your right hand in Heaven. All we have to do is to “put our hand in the hand of the Man from Galilee.”