The Random Kindness Awkwardly
At Starbucks today, a seemingly homeless man was trying to get a refill for his iced tea. He didn’t have the money but was wondering if the cashier would be nice enough to do it for free.
A few things —
1) I offered to pay for the refill. Since I have a Gold Card, I could’ve gotten the refill for free, but I charged it to my regular debit card. I did not want to the cheat the system or exasperate the cashier.
2) The seemingly homeless man acted like nothing happened, as if it was his right to get a free refill. But I didn’t let this bother me, because kindness does not depend on the response of the recipient.
3) A homeless man (or one who cannot afford 54 cent refills) should consider not buying Starbucks.
4) I don’t know what kind of person this man was, whether I was contributing to a drug addict or alcoholic or pervert or a violent man. But to withhold kindness from a stranger based on a paranoid speculation doesn’t make the world a better place. It doesn’t make a drug addict less of a drug addict. It’s better to be kind anyway.
5) Dear sir who might or might not be homeless: I will probably see you again. Let me tell you about the One who will refill your thirst, forever. He is the Most High, and He was kind to me when no one else was, regardless of my response. He saved a broken down old fool like me, and He can save you too. You won’t be able to act like nothing happened, let alone contain it. If you know Him already, let’s share some Starbucks and celebrate. It’s on me.
— J
