Dr. Neill Neill is a psychologist in private practice in British Columbia, Canada. He is a columnist/writer, focussing on topics of a psycho-spiritual nature. His mission is to do what he can to increase the store of human hope, happiness and consciousness. http://www.neillneill.com

 

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How two boys I never met changed my life

I was motorcycling solo in southern Mexico the year I became a grandfather. I was traveling from town to town, gradually making my way to Costa Rica.

In one town I visited -- I don't remember the name -- I stopped by a brick wall about two meters high. The wall surrounded a city block that housed the local market. It was hot in the mid-afternoon sun, and I was heading into the market where I could see shade trees.

The sidewalk by the wall was almost deserted. Two 8- or 9-year-old boys with a shoeshine box were waiting patiently on the sidewalk by the wall. I wondered why they weren t at school. I assumed they were very poor and had to work.

About 30 meters further along the sidewalk, a blind man with a tin cup was leaning against the wall. No one else was in sight.

When I returned from the market some time later, the boys were packing up their shoeshine box. I assumed they were calling it a day. But before they headed for home, they walked over to the blind man and put some of their meager earnings in his cup. Apparently, he was even more in need than they.

In that instant of seeing the very poor sharing what they had with the even poorer, I got a glimpse of true generosity. It touched my heart and made an indelible impression on me. Even now, thirty years later tears are clouding my vision as I recall the story.

That day I learned something about the immense generosity of spirit of which human beings are capable. I remember those boys whenever I give, and whenever I hesitate to give.