Soldier In The Rain

Walking to a neighborhood store one evening as darkness crept forth, I
happened to see a young soldier standing near the bus stop. Rain was beginning to fall, slowly at first. He had no hat or umbrella to protect him from the sudden downpour. When he spotted me nearby, he started to cry.
I asked him if there was something I could do for him.

He answered that the rain had a cleansing effect on him. "I have seen so much
death and misery, unnecessary hatred, families torn apart; I can't get it out of my mind. The rain is a kind of therapy for me. It helps to wash
away the negative baggage that eats away at my soul."

"You asked me if there's anything you can do to help? Yes, you can show
kindness to soldiers like me who sometimes feel all the burdens of humankind. Please listen to us whe we are speaking these thoughts. You,
along with the rain, have helped much more than anyone can imagine. He
thanked me for listening to him. As I walked away, I glanced back to see
the soldier fall to his knees and lift up his face to the rainy sky.