PATTY THE VET MATTERS
Om Sai Ram Dear Sai Family
It was a hot sweltering day. I had just arrived at Fee Avenue pool. Despite the heat, children on vacation
were running and frolicking in the adjacent playground. Fanning myself I waited for my family and
the pool to open.
As I leaned back in my car I heard the squeaky wheels of a shopping cart. A crumpled up man tottering along gripped the cart more like a walker. He had a few soiled items in it and appeared homeless.
My heart rolled out towards him, a rush of sadness and compassion flooded the moment. I wondered how I could help.
Quickly shutting my car door I ran towards him and asked if he needed any help.
I offered to buy him food. He stared at me almost in disbelief. "Why are you doing this?" Looking deep into his bloodshot azure eyes I felt a warm connection. I responded honestly, "I felt sorry for you."
"I think a truck hit me back there when I crossed the street," he rasped, holding onto the cart for support.
He muttered something about heart surgery. Then he looked at me and said "well I would love a whopper referring to a McDonald's burger." "Sure," I said and gave him money for his burger.
He continued talking glad for the company. "You know I served in the Navy for many years, I was in
the Vietnam war and the Cuban crisis." He continued talking about the Navy for some time. Now, it was my turn to stare in disbelief. I felt choked up as he took out his I.D. which showed his veteran status. Here was a man who gave all for his country, risked death and serious injury, now homeless and forgotten. This was a crying shame.
"My name is Patty, what's yours?" he said, interrupting my reverie, "Sonya", I replied, smiling. Patty took a flower out of his top shirt pocket and offered it to me. Gratefully I accepted the heartfelt gift. I watched as he slowly started to leave. "Maybe I will see you again," I said impulsively. Nodding his head he continued on down the road, the shopping cart rattling along.
What a remarkable leela, I thought to myself. Just a few weeks ago a good Sai devotee friend, Paula Sirvant had shared with me a link to a website she was starting up to help Veterans called: "Our Vets Matter." Paula has spent her life tirelessly serving the homeless in New York, so this was really a great cause. Here is a link to her site: http://ourveteransmatter. mydagsite.com/
Also, recently I had pulled this quote out of my blue Baba bag:
"You will not find a more sacred path than service. You should not lose such a golden opportunity. You must experience Divinity in service. This is truly universal vision." ~Sai Baba
Again, I thought to myself, there are so many homeless people especially around the downtown
Melbourne area, it would be good to make sandwiches and just hand them out, we used to do that in New York.
Later that evening, I took the little pink flower that Patty had given me and placed it on our altar saying a prayer: "God Bless Patty and all our homeless Vets!"
Om Sai Ram!
Sai Blessings,
Sonya Ki
UPDATE:
Well, there is some question of legality concerning giving food out in parks. So, we will just
do the sandwich seva at the Sai Center. And contribute to Second Harvest Food Bank.
It was a hot sweltering day. I had just arrived at Fee Avenue pool. Despite the heat, children on vacation
were running and frolicking in the adjacent playground. Fanning myself I waited for my family and
the pool to open.
As I leaned back in my car I heard the squeaky wheels of a shopping cart. A crumpled up man tottering along gripped the cart more like a walker. He had a few soiled items in it and appeared homeless.
My heart rolled out towards him, a rush of sadness and compassion flooded the moment. I wondered how I could help.
Quickly shutting my car door I ran towards him and asked if he needed any help.
I offered to buy him food. He stared at me almost in disbelief. "Why are you doing this?" Looking deep into his bloodshot azure eyes I felt a warm connection. I responded honestly, "I felt sorry for you."
"I think a truck hit me back there when I crossed the street," he rasped, holding onto the cart for support.
He muttered something about heart surgery. Then he looked at me and said "well I would love a whopper referring to a McDonald's burger." "Sure," I said and gave him money for his burger.
He continued talking glad for the company. "You know I served in the Navy for many years, I was in
the Vietnam war and the Cuban crisis." He continued talking about the Navy for some time. Now, it was my turn to stare in disbelief. I felt choked up as he took out his I.D. which showed his veteran status. Here was a man who gave all for his country, risked death and serious injury, now homeless and forgotten. This was a crying shame.
"My name is Patty, what's yours?" he said, interrupting my reverie, "Sonya", I replied, smiling. Patty took a flower out of his top shirt pocket and offered it to me. Gratefully I accepted the heartfelt gift. I watched as he slowly started to leave. "Maybe I will see you again," I said impulsively. Nodding his head he continued on down the road, the shopping cart rattling along.
What a remarkable leela, I thought to myself. Just a few weeks ago a good Sai devotee friend, Paula Sirvant had shared with me a link to a website she was starting up to help Veterans called: "Our Vets Matter." Paula has spent her life tirelessly serving the homeless in New York, so this was really a great cause. Here is a link to her site: http://ourveteransmatter. mydagsite.com/
Also, recently I had pulled this quote out of my blue Baba bag:
"You will not find a more sacred path than service. You should not lose such a golden opportunity. You must experience Divinity in service. This is truly universal vision." ~Sai Baba
Again, I thought to myself, there are so many homeless people especially around the downtown
Melbourne area, it would be good to make sandwiches and just hand them out, we used to do that in New York.
Later that evening, I took the little pink flower that Patty had given me and placed it on our altar saying a prayer: "God Bless Patty and all our homeless Vets!"
Om Sai Ram!
Sai Blessings,
Sonya Ki
UPDATE:
Well, there is some question of legality concerning giving food out in parks. So, we will just
do the sandwich seva at the Sai Center. And contribute to Second Harvest Food Bank.
