The Magic of Mike

The woman stood over the stove stirring a pot of hot soup.She prepared it to ward off the bitter Minnesota cold, a cover-every-inch-of-your-skin cold, the kind that bites you and never lets go, the kind that makes auto engines demand heaters or they refuse to start.Icicles hung from her window ledge and blocked the top part of her view.

Out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed movement.She leaned forward to spot a man shuffling behind a shopping cart on the other side of the frozen road."What's he doing out there?" she asked herself, baffled. "Perhaps he has no home to hide in," she cringed.In an instant she leapt into action, pulled a plastic bag from the drawer next to the sink and began sweeping groceries into it, including the loaf of banana bread she baked that afternoon, still warm from the oven.She grabbed her overcoat. Armed with provisions, she headed out the front door.

"Excuse me," she called.He turned. She waved."Can you come over here?" she continued.The man wheeled his cart and stepped off the sidewalk.

As he approached her house, the man dragged away a scarf that blocked his nose and chin.He revealed a clean face with a slight smile and gentle eyes."Can I?" she stammered. "Can I give you this food?" She paused. "I thought you might be hungry," she added.The man's smile widened."Why," he replied, with surprising eloquence, "that's very kind of you. I hadn't eaten today."He placed the gift in his cart and moved on.She watched for a moment before retreating out of the cold.

The next evening after work, the woman discovered a neatly folded note under her doormat.She stepped inside, opened it and began to read.Thank you so much for your kindness.I often miss meals on colder nights and the shelters are not safe for me. I appreciate everything and the banana bread was delicious-the best I ever tasted.Many blessings,Mike

Throughout the year, the woman ran across Mike in different parts of the city.He greeted her warmly and embraced her kindness with dignity, an almost noble quality that made her happy to give.She often thought about him-where did he come from, how did he end up on the street.Mostly she cared for his heart.

In the fall, as they always did, she and her husband went to Florida on business, then returned on Christmas Eve for the holiday season.As they drove home from the airport, she threw a question into the air."I wonder what happened to Mike?" she asked."Probably went South for the winter," her husband joked, with no meanness intended."Shut up," she half-laughed as she smacked him on the arm.

A few moments later, they turned the corner and across the way, at a bus stop, stood a man with a shopping cart."That's Mike," she exclaimed. "Stop the car.""Don't be silly," her husband retorted. "It's just some other homeless guy.""Stop this instant," she barked. "Pull the car over."

She jumped out and took a stride forward."Mike," she cried in a loud voice. "Is that you?"The man looked up, pulled down a familiar scarf and grinned.She walked to him. He stepped around his cart."Merry Christmas," he said simply with a special twinkle in his eye. "It's warm here at the bus stop." "Stay right here, Mike," the woman ordered. "I'll be right back. Don't you move."

She slammed the car door shut and told her husband to drive."We're getting warm garments," she stated in a tone that allowed no debate.At the house she went straight to her husband's closet, found sweaters and wool socks and a down jacket.She added the blanket from the end of their bed.

Mike waited patiently at the bus stop.She approached him with her arms loaded as her husband kept the car idling.At the last instant a feeling flooded through her.She couldn't give him the clothes.She stood in inner turmoil, paralyzed and unsure, conflicted inside-then she declared:"Mike, it's Christmas. I'm taking you home. Park your cart over there and let's go."Overwhelmed, Mike followed.

That night, they shared dinner, told stories and laughed and laughed.They learned of Mike's background, his broken childhood, a horrid tale he expressed with sorrow and acceptance, of his choice to reject society in favor of a life he understood no matter how hard.She struggled with all of it.

Over breakfast, she issued a bold pronouncement."Mike, I've decided you can stay with us?as long as you want." She beamed with delight. "We can help you."With as much kindness as he could muster, Mike refused. He insisted that they drop him at the airport.He made no excuses, offered no explanation other than his need to be where he belonged.She couldn't go with them.She couldn't bear to say goodbye.She stayed home alone.

When her husband returned, she met him in the entry hall."Well?" she demanded."I dropped him off at his Gulf Stream IV and he took off," he joked again without malice, only a desire to make her feel better in a moment when he didn't quite know how he felt himself.She tried to smile, smacked his arm and turned away.A lone tear strayed down her cheek?a tear she shed for Mike?

That's A View From The Ridge...

About The Author

Author Ridgely Goldsborough invites you to subscribe to The Daily Column, a heart-felt collection of stories that inspire hope and courage. Please do so at www.aviewfromtheridge.com.

ridge@aviewfromtheridge.com

More Resources

10 Powerful Tenets Of Personal & Professional Leadership Using The Law Of Attraction
Leadership is an innate ability in all of us. Using the principals of the Law of Attraction to strengthen our leadership and consciously use it in our personal and professional endeavors will not only attract more success to us it will allow us to be of service to others and make a valuable contribution.
Why Cant You be More Like Me?
Here is a non-scientific, but fun way to see which style you may be. Read the poem below and then identify which one of the styles is most like you.
Teach Me Who You Are
We all have a privately held belief system that defines who we think we are. This belief system is composed of ideas that we have accumulated over time that we think describe us accurately.
To Be A Cut Above The Rest!
Mannerisms and personality traits go a long way in making impressions on other people. Some people unknowingly have mannerisms, which humor others.
Improve Your Conversations By Watching Talk Show Hosts
If you want to learn how to be a good conversationalist, a really useful place to start is by watching television!Not just any television mind you - you can learn a lot about how to have successful conversations by watching talk show hosts!One of the most important qualities exhibited by good talk show hosts on television that you can easily incorporate into your own conversations is the way they really pay attention to the person they are talking with.The most successful talk show hosts demonstrate great curiosity in hearing what the person they are interviewing has to say.
Demanding Miracles
Have you ever had an overwhelming problem or issue? Was there some circumstance in your life that seemed beyond your ability to handle it? Have you ever called out to God, Buddha, guardian angels, The Force, your higher self, Mohammed, Mother Earth, whatever name you give that spirit? To find an all-encompassing name without prejudice towards any one belief system, I'll just hereby use the word 'god' to refer to whatever or whoever it is that you pray to for assistance and guidance. Have you cried out to your god for help and guidance with some crisis in your life? Did you get an answer? Did you get help?When we get the help and assistance we've just asked for, we assume all is well in the heavens.
Limited Thought, Limited Experience
I was reminded once again the other day about how well we limit ourselves and take on the values of others and their limitations.I was in one of our morning sales meetings and just barely awake trying to concentrate on other things.
Social Skills Training Can Positively Impact Your Life
Millions of people become anxious and insecure when speaking in public, starting a conversation, or mingling with others in a social setting.There are a large number of individuals who are extremely successful in their professional lives, but tend to shy away from meeting new people, attending social functions, and interpersonal communication.
Unexpected Wisdom
If you have ever traveled across country by train, you know that meals are served with community seating. That means you can meet new people with every meal.
Courage to Change
This is a story about a woman we will call Anne, a thirty-five-year-old woman who concluded that she could never find a man. She determined that loneliness was her fate and thus went as far as accepting it as fact.
Some Straight Talk About Your Success And Happiness
I want to warn you: this article can cause some discomfort, indignation and sense of insult in minds of people who are not ready to be successful. If you are not ready to face the truth, please don't read this article, because I don't want to hurt your feelings for nothing.
Brainology... Lets Start Learning Something Everyday, Every Moment
Every normal human being learn in his life's each and every minute. He is gaining experience every moment.
Motivation for Life: What Would You Do if You Could Have a Do Over?
"The only thing it takes 365 days to change is a year" - Hypnotherapist David Block"If at any time you make a mistake and want to change your selection, press the star key on the telephone pad." - AMC 20 Movie Theater recordingBoth of the above quotes imply a radical shift in popular thinking about change.
Ten Tips For Setting (And Keeping) Life Changing Resolutions
It's time for that annual ritual of making (and breaking) our New Year's resolutions. There is something about the idea of being able to start over that motivates us to pause (at least briefly) and reflect on our lives as they are, as well as how we would like them to be.
How to Take Control of Your Self Confidence
If you think success, happiness and love are going to happenwithout learning through mistakes along the way you are mistaken.Our brains are wired to learn from our own experiences as well asthose of others.
Afloat on A Sea of Abundance
In the days of the mighty sailing ships, when brave souls voyaged into the unknown, dependent on the winds and their as-yet incomplete knowledge of geography and navigation, one of the greatest and most dangerous challenges was to traverse the area known as "the doldrums."Extending about 30 degrees on either side of the equator, the doldrums are subject to days, weeks, even months of no wind at all.
Once Upon A Time There Was No Money
Once in a while a book comes along that can change your way of thinking for the better. A book that free's the mind of its old limitations.
What Characters Teach Us about Character
Character is that which defines us; it's what people will remember about us long after we're gone. The TV News, Radio Talk Shows, News-Magazines and the daily Paper are replete with stories about characters.
Some Gals Have All the Luck: How to Create Your Own Good Luck
You probably know a few. These gals marry the millionaire.
14 Relationship Principles to Live A Successful Relationship
Each relationship combines two individual stories to coauthor a new relationship story. The implicit contracts authored by each party in a relationship become unspoken assumptions that can facilitate or derail the relationship.

More Attraction Information:

Related Articles

Transformational Counseling - Part One
Transformational Counseling is a process of assisting others to transform their lives. Transformational Counseling is a process of assisting others in their reinventing themselves, of creating a life that they love and living it powerfully.
Creativity, The Law of Attraction, & Networking
Hello Creative Entrepreneurs!I hope this finds you all doing well and living & loving your passions!Today I want to talk about creativity, the law of attrcation and networking.Let's start with creativity--YOUR creativity! Creativity is limitless.
Better Than a Million Dollar Lottery Win
Do you remember the feeling of seeing someone you were attracted? It makes the heart bump, doesn't it?Have you ever stood on stage in front of a sea of faces that you know well and pulled out your notes to make a speech? Boy does the vibration of shaking liven you up!Have you ever felt the breeze on your face, either during a hot-air balloon ride or by sticking your head through the car sunroof? It wakes your senses up, doesn't it?And on a scale of 1-10 how much does your heart bump, body shake and senses wake when you do your day job? I bet you can practically do the tasks with your eyes shut. In fact I bet there are days when you feel like you did have your eyes shut?Most people don't feel awakened by their day jobs.
Four Proven Techniques On How To Capture Positive Habits
Bad habits, we all have them. They keep us from accomplishing our dreams, make us say and do things that really aren't in our integrity.
Give The Wrong Words An Inch And They May Take A Mile!
What do you do when circumstances seem out of control? What's the first thing you look for? Or Whom? What immediately runs through your mind? Do you yell? Do you curse? Do you go bow up your back like a porcupine getting ready for all out war?By Word Of Mouth!There is something that every one of us has been taught to do since we were born and yet so few people know how to control it. We have been taught how to talk, but still don't know how to control our mouth.
On St. Valentines Day, Or Any Romantic Interlude, Woo Your Sweetheart With Chocolates, Roses...
On Valentine's Day, or any romantic interlude, lovers should woo their sweethearts with chocolates and roses -- but also a Leadership Talk.My experience in teaching the Leadership Talk to thousands of leaders worldwide for the past 21 years confirms that the Talk is a boon for leaders of all ranks and functions in their jobs and careers.
Introduction to the Law of Attraction and Unlimited Wealth
This article was written for one purpose:To explain to you as effectively as possible, exactly what you can do to have everything in your life that you can possibly imagine. And since that is such a tall order, I need to be able to explain how to do that in a way that does not seem "hocus-pocus" or require you to adopt some kind of "new-age" belief system, because I would lose a great many of those I am trying to reach if I went that route.
5 Practical Shyness Tips That Work Everytime
We all experience a little shyness at times with people who we find intimidating.Here are some useful suggestions and ideas that can help you overcome shyness and speak up when you need to in order to achieve your goals.
Self-Esteem: The Foundation of All You Achieve
At its core, your sense of self-esteem or self-worth has a huge impact on how you live your life.It frames how you feel about yourself, how you relate to others, how much you achieve in your work - and how you feel about pretty much everything.
Bigger Fish To Fry
Last month I was on another adventure, fishing Dog Lake in Northern Ontario. That trip really brought home to me the power of the Law of Attraction.
Finding Truth
Why Must We Find Truth:Finding truth can be a very difficult task. We are processing data constantly with news from TV, radio and newspapers.
Why Doesnt This Manifesting Thing Work for Me?
You've written out your goals. You read them every day.
The Mind - What An Amazing Universe
You are what you think;The experts say we barely use 10% of our minds. I wouldn't be so sure about that or very proud of it either.
Guiltless Contentment
'Have I stopped dreaming?' 'Why am I not as stressed?' 'Why am I not on the 'move' like most people of my age?' Is something really amiss?'Guilt in Contentment?Is there really such a thing as guilt in feeling contented?"Guilt may come from comparing your living conditions to others and not living up to your own standards. It arises from unreasonable demands on yourself especially when you fashion your life to someone else's," wrote Maxwell Maltz, M.
Mirror, Mirror
The Concept of Beauty"Mirror Mirror on the Wall, who's the most beautiful of them all?"This is a line spoken by the Queen in the children's fairy tale "Snow White"The Queen most likely, was once the most beautiful woman in the kingdom; expected only to hear the Mirror confirm that fact.To the Queen's dismay The Mirror had exchanged her beauty for that of Snow White's He pulled down the Queen's Beauty position replacing it with that of her Snow White's.
The Cliché of Balance
The world we are living in is changing at a fast pace. Never before in the history of mankind that change was so enormous and rapid.
Character or Reputation
Character or Reputation. When we see these two words together, we often mistakenly believe that you cannot have one without the other.
7 Ways to Drive a Man Wild
It's unbelievable the amount of bad advice there is out there on how to seduce a man or if they give you advice they forget to tell you how to use it properly. So here are a couple of tips on what to do and what not to do to drive a man wild and an instruction manual.
What are You Creating?
Before you left school, did any of your teachers sit you down, and ask: 'How will you use your unique gifts in the world? Did they even explore the term 'unique gift' with you?And what about your relationships?The term 'soul-mate' sounds like a wonderful concept, doesn't it?But did anyone point out to you that it would be impossible for your soul mate to discover your soul, before you discovered your own soul for yourself?And what about our own children? What are we teaching them?We'd love them to thrive, be prosperous and go out into the world with confidence. Yet if we lacked an inspirational teacher or important advice from a parent, how can we expect our children to achieve greater richness and abundance than we manage?Clearly there is a need for us all to seek greater wisdom, be that for ourselves or for a youngster.
What You Sow You Reap!
Go into the fields and country lanes in the spring-time, and you will see farmers and gardeners busy sowing seeds in the newly prepared soil. If you were to ask any one of thosegardeners or farmers what kind of produce he expected from the seed he was sowing, he would doubtless regard you as foolish, and would tell you that he does not "expect" at all, that it is a matter of common knowledge that his produce will be of the kind which he is sowing, and that he is sowing wheat, or barley, or turnips, as the case may be, in order to reproduce that particular kind.