Three Men

Peadar woke early. The day held much ahead, and he knew all he had to accomplish required skill and centered attention. If all were to be done, he could not entertain any distractions.

Following his morning routine and his mind already anticipating the day, he drove down the driveway. Leaving, he barely noticed the man on the street. Besides, there wasn’t enough room in his mind to attend to anything but what was before him. The day’s thoughts filtered out anything else in his field of vision.

Arriving at work, his first task was to go to the post office to pick up a package that arrived the evening before. Since the post office was a short distance, he walked. He strode along Buber Street with a fast pace. Rounding the corner, he saw a disheveled and ragged man sitting on the pavement. Unshaven, smelling foul, and unable to fill his clothes with his frame, the man stared at Peadar coming. Peadar fixed on the man for a moment but as he got closer, he looked away. Peadar thought little of beggars. He could not be deterred. He must get back to the office for his 9 a.m. appointment.

The day hurried on, and in a seeming blink, it was time for his lunch meeting. Peadar had planned to meet the president of a local charity to discuss their mission. Peadar understood the importance of networking and since he thought of himself as a civic-minded person, this meeting would be important.

Walking into the restaurant, there was a man outside pushing a grocery cart. Peadar’s antenna immediately rose. The man wore a rather large, green long-waisted coat, too heavy for June. His cart filled, not with groceries for no grocery store was near, but with bags stuffed with cans and bottles. On the side of his cart, a sign read, “Lost my job and family. Please help.” His head down and avoiding eye contact, Peadar hurried past. Walking on, he thought, “What is wrong with these people? Can’t they work? Do they not have any values?”

The day moved on while Peadar checked off his list all the important items that he knew must be completed. The day’s end came, and all had been done. Leaving the office, he felt a sense of satisfaction for possessing the intellect and discipline to accomplish the challenges he faced on this day. With a sigh of relief, he was quite pregnant with pride and headed home.

Nearing his driveway, there was a man sitting down against the pillar at the entrance to the driveway. Turning into the driveway, Peadar stopped the car, lowered his window, and spoke to the man. He said, “You can’t be here. Leave my property.” The man replied, “Sir, I am hungry and in need of food. Can you give me something to eat?” Peadar responded, “Move on now. Go somewhere else to get your food.”

Waking the next morning, Peadar heard a rooster crow.