The only difference between me and “the sweet potato man” is Grace!

Whoever is truly humbled will not be easily angry, nor harsh or critical of others. He will be compassionate and tender to the infirmities of his fellow-sinners, knowing that IF there is a difference, it is GRACE ALONE which has made it." John Newton

I recently got back from a vacation in Maui. Near the place we were staying lived a man that I’m assuming is homeless because he slept on the corner of a street with a tarp as his “roof”. His community was temporarily our community and as we went about our day to day activities our paths would sometimes cross. We became familiar with his schedule as far as when he went to sleep, when he walked the street, when he went on his public rants, etc. He seemed to have at least some level of psychological deficiencies based on my observations such as him talking to his “friend” which was a sweet potato. I don’t write about this to make fun of him, but actually just to bring light to the situation from the observation of grace. I don’t know anything about his past or some of the horrors or choices he has faced but based on some of his rants, it appears that he may have had some sort of military background. Everywhere he went that we observed, he had his sweet potato with him. He slept with his sweet potato, he walked with his sweet potato, he yelled at his sweet potato, and he talked to his sweet potato. It’s so easy to feel superior or judgemental sometimes to others who we may not understand or approve of but if you really stop to think about it what separates him and me might literally only be Grace. If we apply the beginning quote to all of our relationships in life, it becomes so simple to drop the judgment and realize that the only thing separating you and your fellow man in their decision process is grace. Who knows what choices you may have made had you been in the same shoes of the person you are judging! It is such a good reminder and helps to find the compassion that is so needed in our relationships. This world doesn’t need more judgement nor is it our place to judge at all! The world needs our love, our forgiveness, our compassion and grace. As God looks down on us all including the “sweet potato man” he sees His beautiful creation and loves us ALL. ❤️