Remembering Mister Rubbernose

I take walks down Memory Lane, occasionally, and they are well worth the trip. I remember one particularly hot summer day when I was a little girl. One afternoon, my brothers and I rode with our Dad to the local country store in our little town. Mama was cooking dinner and needed something. This country store looked like an old Saloon with a big wooden porch across the front.

There was a man sitting there, on the porch, with a duffle bag under his chair. Dad asked where he was going. He answered “Anywhere. Wherever somebody might be headed. I have to find work.” Dad suggested he come home with us for dinner and he would bring him back to catch a ride.

He joined us for dinner and did not leave for years. He had no family of his own and he became part of our family. We loved him and nicknamed him Mr. Rubbernose. His real name was George.  I do not remember his last name. I remember playing “Go, Fish” as well as “Hide and Seek” with him for hours. He played ball with my brothers and even joined me for a tea party on occasion.

Mr. Rubbernose found a job. He was a truck driver and traveled most of the time, but our house became his home when he was not on the road. Oh, by the way, he only had one eye. I doubt safety regulations would allow a truck driver with only one eye to get behind the wheel today.

We were extremely poor. Our tiny shanty house had walls that were so thin you could overhear sign language. Most of our menu consisted of beans, potatoes, rice, biscuits, and cornbread. We had no indoor plumbing and the house only had four tiny rooms. Mr. Rubbernose slept on a cot that we opened each night. We had very little but we were not aware of it. Like most children, we heard the same stories about the starving children around the world and how we should be very thankful for all our blessings.

My family never owned a home and we moved often. Mr. Rubbernose moved with us each time. After all, he was an integral member of our family. Each move was to a similar structure but, eventually, we did have indoor plumbing. Oh, happy day!

When I remember my humble beginnings, I am even more thankful than ever for where God has taken me. I hope I never forget how blessed I am to live in a great country where one’s past does not determine their future.

I wrote recently in this column about how Jesus often speaks of caring for the poor. He commands us to care for those with less throughout scripture. What we tend to forget is that Jesus is speaking to us as individuals. He is not instructing government officials.

The United States is a very generous nation. The US is the third most generous country in the world, behind Indonesia and India.

The Charities Aid Foundation analyzed data from the IRS for those who itemized deductions.  States are ranked by the percentage of individuals giving to charities.

STATE RANKINGS FOR CHARITABLE GIVING

Alabama – 87% donated an average of $6,580.

Utah – 86% donated an average of $8,785.

Georgia – 85% donated an average of $6,862.

South Carolina – 85% donated an average of $5,472.

Mississippi – 85% donated an average $6,033.

North Carolina – 84% donated an average $5,159

One noticeable trend of this list is that these are all deeply religious areas. All except Utah are considered part of the Bible Belt. Do you notice a pattern? Some states realize the responsibility as individuals to care for the needy. Others look to government for charity rather than to our neighbors.

There are other studies out there that take various criteria into consideration and have different results. I think those studies that use direct IRS data are the most telling of the Generosity Index.

I am happy to see our state making the top tier. I know today that it is unlikely that we would take a stranger home from the convenience store and let him move in. Times have changed way too much for that, but I do hope we are following Christ’s teachings to help those in need.

These are trying times right now. Many citizens are facing uncertain futures. Jobs have been lost. Businesses have been shut down. Many of these businesses are now shuttered and will not be reopening. My heart aches for those citizens who are suffering tremendous economic loss. I pray the turmoil will end soon.