Ain’t Much Lowered: A Fable

To Perry Sams

“I ain’t much, Lord, but I’m all I got.” The down&out West-Sider lowered his head in prayer. But before he started, the voice of the LORD rang in his head, saying “Never mind the prayer. Go to the pawn shop on the corner of 12th Street and Indian School.”

Stupefied, the bum (he called himself such) obeyed, going Eastbound on a bus whose driver waved away his two bucks.

At the pawnshop was a guitar the LORD told him to buy. As Divine Providence had it, the guitar was going for seventeen dollars less than what he had.

“Now go to the McDonald’s on 51st,” saith the LORD. “Get a small order of fries and a water cup.”

At the McDonald’s there was a woman about his age who, watching him order, interrupted the transaction by saying, “Please, Sir, let me buy you something more,  substantial than that.” Soon he was sitting down to two Quarter Pounder Deluxes, a large fry, and an Oreo milkshake and large Dr. Pepper. Then she took him home, where she had him take a hot shower and change into some of her late husband’s clothing.

“Play me a song, please, on your guitar.”

He picked up the guitar, and though he hadn’t played in years, his hands were nimble; and he began playing and singing a song that had never before existed.

Lord, I ain’t much lowered,

So I’m getting to my feet.

Dear Lord, I ain’t much lowered,

So I rise, and I cast off all defeat.

I know You help those who help themselves

So I’ll see you when my Resurrection is complete.

Suddenly he stopped playing and singing.

The lady applauded, and stuck two fingers in her mouth to whistle loudly. But the man shushed her. “Ma’am, I have to leave. I just realized I have to live up to the words I just sang. I can feel your loneliness, and I know you can feel mine, but we are not on equal terms right now. I hope to knock on your door soon and offer you more than a down-and-out bum with a song in his heart. Meantime, though, please accept my thanks. I am grateful.”

He rushed out the door as quickly as he could.

A month later she received mail from him, and a money order for fifty dollars. He told her he was unlowering himself nicely and the money was for the meal and clothing.

Three months later he sent her yellow roses and told her he had been upgraded to full-time work.

A year and two weeks later a car pulled up in front of her house and there was a knock on her door.