It felt like 100 degrees underground this evening & still, this guy....one of my two favourite maintenance workers displayed in front of me, a little miracle that 'caused me to stop playing. And I never stop playing save the NYPD threatening wrongful arrest. Thought the heat had left most everyone on the platform close to comatose, only able to nod or grin their approval as opening a bag or purse risked being even more miserable than they already were.Through the heat, this guy continued his diligent sweeping & picking up trash. He'd finished the platform & had gotten to the stairs with one foot up on the lowest step, broom in hand, handled dustpan in the other, ready to sweep them clear of debris when a homeless guy, toothless, hunched over & skinnier than most, came up behind him. I kept on singing, playing & watching, 'till I saw the maintenance guy, sensing someone behind him, turned around, look at the emaciated homeless man in the eye, nodded, tucked his broom & dustpan under his arm, reach into his pants pocket & pulled out his wallet. He then proceeded to pull out a dollar bill & give it to the skinny, toothless guy standing in front of him. I stopped playing, chills were running up & down my arms when my eye's met those of the maintenance worker's. I touched my heart, smiled a very small, private smile & nodded. He awkwardly & sheepishly took in the confirmation as if he were far more comfortable with anonymity than acknowledgment and quickly resumed his sweeping.
This guys' job is not fun, not glamorous, it smells, it's hot, it's cold, it's loud & I can pretty much guarantee he's not living high on the hog. It was a 100 friggin' degrees underground today & still he took the time & effort to do this.
This is why I go underneath the streets of NYC, to witness love like this in action This, my 'family', on a daily basis, displays such random, selfless acts of love & generosity, things that never make the news or the headlines, but one by one change lives & move energy.
I hold vast love & appreciation for what I am allowed to witness on a regular basis under the streets of NYC. And I hope everyone gets a chance to be the audience to such selfless love on an ongoing basis in their lives as well. It is Grace, in action.
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Heidi Kole, musician & author of "The Subway Diaries", is a a busker underneath the streets of NYC. Often called an "urban sociologist", Heidi shares her experiences & observations through her music, book, blog & posts al over the world