Several years ago I had the privilege of taking about 70 people from our church on a mission trip to New York City.

All of us were from a small town in South Carolina and visiting the “Big Apple” was a bit daunting for most of them. Of course, I had already made several trips to New York, but it was still a daunting task.

All of the things I had heard about the dangers in the city were first and foremost in my mind since I would be taking other people’s children into the “most dangerous” city in America. I had warned them all to stay close, not to wonder off, and make sure they were always with a group.

We were soon surrounded by native New Yorkers on their busy pace to get where ever they were going. There were men in nice suits, women in business attire, tourists and, of course, the street people. It was too much for some in our group and they sought safety and security in the college dorm we were lodging in.

Others began to cautiously venture outside and soon became accustomed to the fast pace of big city living. But, of course, there were still all those nasty, dirty, smelly, street people.

One day, as we were waiting for the subway train to arrive, i had gathered very close to keep an eye out for their safety. I surveyed the group around us cautiously to make sure no “bad” people were getting too close to our nice, clean, naive, country kids. I had already warned everyone not to speak or make eye contact with anyone.

I turned my head just for a moment and when I turned back around one of our sweet little country girls had engaged in conversation with a scruffy–looking old man. When I saw him hand her something I rushed over and sent him on his way. I then asked the young girl what the old man had given her.

“Only this,” she said, handing me a crumpled piece of paper. On it was a name and an address.

The girl then explained, “That poor man never gets any mail, so he gave me his address. We are going to send him a card when we get home.”

I wonder if this is what Jesus meant when he said “As often as you have done it unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto me.”

This is my story…