crossing paths with a man who changed my life

What started as a routine Wednesday afternoon walk around the block quickly led to one of the most impactful interactions I’ve had.

So I wanted to share the story....

I stepped out of my home office to greet the most beautiful blue sky day Santa Monica was gifted with all winter. Drunk off of my first few sips of sunshine, I greeted the gentleman approaching to my left on his bike with an energetic “Hello!” He eagerly and emphatically returned my greeting, as if he had been waiting all day for it. I didn’t think much of it then, and continued onward. 

As I made my third left turn I saw the same guy taking a photo of a red flower on the sidewalk, his paint-chipped bike rested in the shade against the adjacent palm. When he saw me approaching he looked up at me through his thick black framed glasses that were held together by duct tape and received me like a long lost cousin. His messy hair and sun wrinkled skin contrasted his clean t-shirt neatly tucked into his blue jeans. He appeared to be in his sixties, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was much younger. Curious as a cat, I probed into conversation. 

He said he loved taking photos of beautiful things on the street. “Oh I’m Theodore, by the way” he interrupted himself to introduce himself, keenly shaking my hand. His kind smile exposed some missing teeth and his dimples amplified the wrinkles. I asked if he lived around here and I learned that he is homeless. He has a small storage unit a few blocks away and sleeps under the highway overpass nearby. “It’s not that bad,” he added. “I started delivering food for Uber Eats on my bike here so I’m getting closer to getting off the streets. I love working and it keeps me busy which is good.”

Clearly welcomed by my well-intended questions, I learned a bit more about his story – how an injury that put him out of work and no family to support him led to a downward spiral in his life. “I’m sorry I’m probably talking too much, holding you up.” He apologetically offered. “No way!” I exclaimed. “I’m the one asking the questions!” We laughed. 

I then felt the urge to ask a simple question, “What can I do to support you?” His biggest challenge was finding places to charge his phone so he could use the Uber Eats app to keep working. Before he could even make an ask, I remembered that I had a high end portable solar panel charger for camping that was collecting dust in my closet. I invited him into my home to see if I could find it. 

He politely refused my offer to serve him a glass of water, but lit up when I showed him the charger. He then asked “I don’t have much, but what do you want for it?” I laughed and said “I just want you to take it!” As I handed it over to him, I could see his sharp blue eyes well up with tears. “Thank you, Joshua,” was all he could respond, along with a hug. As I walked him out the door he thanked me for taking the time to stop and talk to him – for taking the time to care. “I hope to run into you again on one of your walks sometime soon!” He said in closing. “Me too Theodore,” I smiled back. “Me too.”

You never know how much one smile can brighten someone’s day. How something meaningless to you can mean so much to someone else. This man’s dedication to being the victor and NOT the victim in life deeply inspired me. It made me absurdly grateful for the amazing friends and family I have in my life that I can turn to in times of hardships. Through giving, I received more than I could have imagined. I was reminded that everyone carries a piece of the puzzle. No one comes into your life by coincidence. Take that first step. Trust your instincts. Seek how you can be of service to support someone else. You may be surprised by just how much you have to give.  

“I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” ― Etienne de Grellet