Story of Chris: Service

Story
I almost wrote a post a few weeks ago about a man I saw on the bus. He's Korean and I have seen him around on BYU campus. He is blind and carries a pole/stick with him. However, I have never talked to him.

A few weeks ago when I saw him, I was overwhelmed with compassion because he reminded me of my dad. I thought, "What if my dad were in the same situation as he is?" In a foreign country, no one to help him and so helpless. I am ashamed to say that I didn't talked to him that day.

Last Saturday, Alysha and I went to Smith's and I saw the same man going into the store guided by a security man.

Alysha and I didn't have much to buy but since we were used to Smith's in Murray, we had no idea where anything was so it took awhile before we found everything we needed. In the meantime, I kept watching that Korean man, and he took his time walking around and looked for things. According to Alysha, there were people who would get frustrated with him because he moved so slow. He moved slow because he had to examine things. No one stopped to ask him if he needed help. His quiet excuse me's to people who passed by him seemed to be only heard by me.

When we finally found everything we needed, I told Alysha that I feel bad for just leaving. She is so sweet, kind, and always supportive of me. She urged me to go help him and told me that she would be in the car changing Emma's diaper. I am so grateful for her and her support.

I finally walked over to him, who was at the produce section of the store, and asked him if he needed some help. He was very grateful and told me that he needed some mushrooms. By this point, he told me that his name was Chris Lee. When I took him where the mushrooms were, I asked him if he wanted them already cut or whole. He wanted them cut. I thought to myself that that would be easier to cook with and that he wouldn't have to cut them himself. He then proceeded to ask him if they were $1.99. When I told him that they were $3.99 and the cheapest ones were still over $1.99, he returned them to me and told me that he didn't want them.

Upon returning the mushrooms back on the shelf, I asked him if he wanted something else. Tofu. That was in his price range so he decided to get it. When I asked him if he needed anything else, he told me that was it. All he wanted was tofu and mushrooms. I couldn't just let him leave with tofu so I offered to pay for the mushrooms. He asked, "Really?" Yes, I would. After we got them, I turned to him and said, "Do you need anything else? I will pay." He thanked me profusely as we went to get some things that he wanted. When we were almost done, I realized that Alysha had the keys with Smith's card on the key ring. That's when I asked her if I could pay for Chris and she was once again supportive of helping him.

We gave him a ride to his apt. When I helped him carry his groceries inside, I saw his apt. His tiny apt that was smaller than my bathroom. A small stove, small counter top with a small sink, a fridge, a lounge chair, a plastic table, and other random things filled up his apt. He never stopped thanking me. I wish I could help him more but my own circumstances doesn't allow me to help him more than I did unfortunately. However, I am glad that I was able to help him as much as I did.

When I got back in the car, I apologized to Alysha for taking so much time and money but she told me that there was no need to apologize for doing a good deed. How can I not love this girl! I married the most wonderful girl in the world!

Today, I have sent a referral to the missionaries to go visit Chris. From what I could tell, he has been to the Korean ward, has been in the US for five years, doesn't go to school, doesn't really work, gets money from his family in Korea, and is all alone. If you see Chris (he is Korean, is tan, wears sunglasses, and has a pole that is wrapped), please offer to give him a ride or give him any kind of service you can.

Lesson
There are so many people we can and should help. There are refugees, homeless people, and people who are in need. This particular man is dear to my heart, perhaps, because he is Asian and reminds me of my dad.

We talk a lot about service and helping others. However, how many of us (both you and I) pass by people like Chris in the aisle of a grocery store frustrated that he is going slow? How many of us pass by him without asking to help?

Perhaps, we are too busy with our own life that we do not look around us and do not see others who are in need. Perhaps, we are too focused on our own problems that we don't notice others who are in need.

Today, stop what you are doing and look around you. Is there someone who clearly needs a ride? Is there someone who doesn't have enough money to pay for a small amount of groceries? Is there someone who needs help carrying groceries? Let's look around and serve.