Ben

This is Ben.  Ben is 70 years old, born in Delaware and works on the streets of Sugarhouse Utah.   

I noticed Ben about 9 months ago when I saw him in my neighborhood on the side of the road selling beautiful walking sticks that he hand carves himself while sitting there waiting for any stranger to approach him and initiate a conversation.  

I asked Ben why he was doing this. And his response, like many people that we see on the side of the road, was because he was unable to get a job.   I asked why he was unable to get a job and he told me his story of how he was a veteran that has had numerous issues over the years getting his identification renewed because of a typo that the government made on previous records.  In order to obtain new identification he must obtain his birth certificate that is in Delaware and because of his limited resources, he has been unable to do that.   

Everyone has a story, everyone has a reason as to why they are where they are at this very moment.  I asked him if this caused him frustration and his response was simply, I can not control the mistakes that the government made and all I can do is try to survive the best way I can.  He does not beg for money because his pride is bigger than his money issues, so he did what he knew how to do best and he put his hands to work.   He sits there on that corner in the midst of this busy city, swiss-army knife in hand, and carves his living into beautiful pieces of wood. His hands are worn, yet he seems to find contentment in what he does and how he survives.  

As we continued talking and I snapped photos of his liveliness, he proceeded to tell me that we are all beautiful and amazing creatures that are capable of more than we know.  Yet we are held back by a fear that is instilled in us from the very start of our lives.  We are taught to fear our parents, authorities, greater deities that our beyond our reach.  We are often held back and worried because we are either living in the past or trying to make the future happen before it actually happens. We are too caught up in society and technology these days.   All of this he said, takes away from who we are and what we have in this very moment.  

For that reason Ben does not worry about where his next  buck to pay his rent will come from, or what he will eat in the next week.  He simply lives day to day, sits on the side of the road, and spreads what he calls good karma by doing what he does with his hands.  

Today I saw the universe work in the most beautiful way.  My stresses melted far away as I listened to this old man spewing with wisdom.  Sarah and I together gave him $40 today for two of his walking sticks, he thanked us for giving him enough money to pay his rent for the month of May.

For those of you that are in Salt Lake City and want to visit with Ben, he is always on the corner of 2100 S and 1100E in Sugarhouse.  I promise if you stop and talk to this man, you will walk away with a smile on your face. :) 

There are too many words to our conversation today to convey in this post so take a look at Ben through my eyes. :)