An old man, though probably younger than me, sat idly on the sidewalk next to a tree.   A scrawled sign spoke quite audibly to me.   It shouted, "I am old and broke and hungry!"  It was an often-seen scene in New York City.

But something different made me feel pity --- it could have been that I was seeing myself in him!  Although my long life had never seemed so grim.

Then I spoke briefly to him, asking how I could really help get his life back on track. He merely shrugged, dismissing my attempt to connect with him. As I handed him a worn ten dollar bill --- something I rarely do, since I sorely needed it myself --- his face lit up as if I had given him a cure-all pill!

And as I slowly continued on my haphazard way, I felt especially good about myself that day. My small act of kindness made me realize how little it takes to make me feel as if I had won a major prize.

And although we both might be broke, in our own way, neither of us was broken!