July 4th story

As a helper, we treasure our holidays when we get to unplug for some precious time with our loved ones! I was doing my duty as a proud parent, and husband early July 4th morning. Off to get a breakfast surprise order for the family who were still tucked away in bed, enjoying the sleep of the holiday! As I sat in line with many hungry customers I began to reflect how my Higher Power has blessed me. Searching through my thoughts, and sending prayers to all my clients and groups that can use some positive, healthy fun this holiday. All of a sudden this man appears in our lobby, with no shirt, and this hyper discourse coming from his mouth. The manager of the restaurant was swamped with customers. The man then, put on his t-shirt- and shouted to the manager he needed a job application, at 6:30 am. The manager shouted back at the man, (as he was waiting on me and taking money for the bill) saying, this is not a good way to get a job. I got my breakfast orders, and began to depart, when I heard the manager shout again at the man, that he was calling the police, and did not have time for this man. Right there, boom, it hit me. Do I leave, or do I do my calling? I turned around, put my breakfast on hold, and headed to the man who was shouting, there are not 80,000 people in here that need service, as the manager had told him. Actually this man was counting out loud, very loud, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,... and so on to how many people were in the line waiting to check out. I approached the man, his eyes already gave it away, then there was his speech, and finally his hyper activity. I walked over, and gently began to talk to him. He looked at me, then began to let me know by accident that he has been up for days, obviously in a impaired state, my guess was meth. I introduced myself, and the manager gave me space. I got him a job application, and then walked him out of the restaurant, across the street, to a shaded picnic table. This man and I talked for a few minuets, he decided that he could go home and fill out the job application, then take a shower, get something to eat, and then tomorrow morning, after 9am, come back to the restaurant, be appropriately dressed and turn in his job application. I walked back across the street, went into the restaurant, to get our food. As I walked in, I heard this clapping, and customers were coming up to me and thanking me. They were not thanking me because this man was a disturbance to their breakfast on July 4th, they were thanking me because many of the customers knew this man, and after some gleaned feedback from the customers, I to understood where this man was at. The moral to the story, as a helper, there is not a right or wrong time to unplug, but there is always a time to help someone when the opportunity comes. A Higher Power is here 24/7, self has the power to use it!  Stay in your health, stay in the moment.