Two Gentlemen

Two strangers were sitting on a park bench watching children play, families laughing together and ducks chasing behind toddlers for an afternoon snack. The gentleman with the worn hat steals secret glances of the man sitting next to him clothed in fine dress which he himself had never owned. Noticing the exquisite quality of the jacket, he couldn't help but nod his head in agreement to the assured warmth of such a garment on cold winter evenings. Startled from his daydream, he realized the man in the fine coat had asked him how he was doing.

Stammering, he replied, "Fine, Sir. And you?'

"Couldn't be better. I absolutely love days like this. A chill in the air reminding you you're alive, laughter and beauty all around. Yes, Sir, I couldn't be better!"

After a polite and cordial get-to-know-you period, the man with the worn hat asked the other what he did for a living.

"I make people shine," was the response.

Confused, the man with the worn hat asked him what he meant.

"It's quite simple, my friend. I see things in people that others often miss because they simply never take the time to look. So many people are too busy looking at themselves and serving their own needs, they completely overlook what they are actually searching for. I simply take the time to see and then build upon the foundation that's already there, until that person begins to shine. Here's something I found to be quite interesting: though their light becomes bright, the rays cascade back down upon you illuminating the impetus for their brilliance."

With the fine gentleman's attention momentarily drawn away by a squabble involving a bologna sandwich, two ducks and a boy with mustard on his face, the man with the worn hat reflected on what had just been said.

Once the ducks emerged as the victors and the crying boy fled to the comfort of his mother, the fine gentleman turned his attention back to his benchmate. "You see, we all have the ability and capacity to make other shine. The question is, do you want to?"

"I do, but I don't know how. Would you teach me?"

"This is all you need to know- you will become what you practice." The fine gentleman paused as he stood and turned to face his companion. Taking off his beautiful jacket and producing an equally elegant hat, which had been unseen until now, laid them next to the man still seated on the bench. "It has been a great honor to meet you, Sir. For I too am still learning, and my desire is to be a friend to all. Please accept these tokens as my gift to you. I bid you a good day and prosperous practice."

The fine gentleman was gone before the stunned man with the worn hat could bring himself to speak. As he watched the figure slip out of sight, he thought to himself, "Sir, you are not only a friend to all, but a king among men." Standing, he removed the old worn hat, donned the new one and slipped into his luxurious jacket. Not wanting to lose the truth of the moment, the man with the new hat began looking for the glimmer of light in every person he passed by and was dazzled by the brilliance of what he saw.

#twogentlemen #purpose #giving #story