Main content

The homeless man

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Angad Kaur.

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Angad Kaur

Prayer for the Day with Angad Kaur

Good Morning.

To reach the temple I visit regularly, I’ve walked through the same underpass for over 15 years. Last week, for the first time, I encountered a homeless person who’d set up residence there. I stopped briefly, due to being late for a programme, said hello and offered some change. As I rushed on, I caught these words the young man called after me - β€œmay all your dreams come true.”

The next evening, I passed through again. Not in a hurry this time, I stopped and asked him, β€œwhat are your dreams?” while aware I was stood in front of a man sitting on the ground with no home, money, food or shoes. He said his dream was to have a girlfriend.

What followed was an unexpected and enriching conversation about relationships.

I invited him to the temple for food anytime and mentally I noted things to bring him next time for the cold nights. But I never saw him again.

I don’t know his name, why he was living on the streets, where he came from; nothing of his life story.

I may have given him some change, but he gave me an experience of what can change through the quality of an exchange with another person. Our conversation felt very healing for me, not that he knew anything of my past either.

I was on the way to a temple but experienced something of the sacred in this cold, stark space of an underpass.

My prayer is that in our busy and often rushed lives, we take occasions to stop, be available for exchanges outside of our everyday conversations, routines and relationships, so we don’t overlook or step over, literally, an opportunity right in front of us that brings a deeper meaning to the value of life.

Sat Naam

Available now

2 minutes

Last on

Mon 4 Mar 2024 05:43

Broadcast

  • Mon 4 Mar 2024 05:43

"Time is passing strangely these days..."

"Time is passing strangely these days..."

Uplifting thoughts and hopes for the coronavirus era from Salma El-Wardany.