[Vision2020] He restored My Faith

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (August 4, 2006) Spokesman Review -

This article reflects what I consider to be true Christianity.

>From the article:

"Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride."

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'He restored my faith' 
Woman loses wallet but finds an 'angel'

Jody Lawrence-turner 
Staff writer
August 4, 2006

Homeless and battling health problems, Ralph Sandaine could always use some
extra cash.

But when he spotted a stray wallet downtown stuffed with credit cards and
personal checks, Sandaine knew what he had to do: find its rightful owner.

"He restored my faith and trust in people," said Spokane Fire Marshal Lisa
Jones, the owner of the wallet. "To see such kindness was very inspiring."

And it came at a time when Jones needed a reminder that there are still good
people in the world.

When she asked Sandaine last week why he returned the wallet, he answered:
"Have you seen the movie 'Pay it Forward'? I'm paying it forward."

The 41-year-old woman, who has a 6-month-old daughter and two teenage sons
and has been struggling through a difficult divorce, told Sandaine: "You are
my angel." 

Sandaine, 48, was modest about his actions. 

"It's no big deal," he said to Jones during a visit Thursday in the parking
lot where he'd found the wallet. "I just found your wallet and returned it
to you."

Sandaine said, for him, it's basically all about karma, much like the
television show, "My Name is Earl." In that show, the main character is
trying to right all the wrongs he's committed in his life to turn his karma
around. 

Sandaine said he's basically doing the same. He said a bout with alcoholism
and a bad decision in his past led to his homelessness.

Sandaine found the wallet last week in the 1800 block of West Broadway, an
area Spokane police call "the zone," because of its high crime rate. Jones'
business card was inside the wallet, so Sandaine called her at work and left
a message. But the fire marshal didn't get the voicemail in time to connect
with him that night. He called the next day and met her at a fire station
near downtown. 

When Sandaine returned Jones' wallet, she commented about how meaningful it
was for someone to show her kindness right now. He inquired about her
troubles, and listened to her talk. 

"Here's this person who is homeless and desperate, and he's reaching out to
me," Jones said, still touched by the man's kindness. 

Jones said she asked Sandaine what she could do for him, and he told her,
"no, nothing." She insisted he take a $50 reward. 

Continuing Sandaine's philosophy of paying it forward, he went to a downtown
drive-in and used the money to buy several hamburgers. "Then I handed them
out," he said.

The Montana-born Sandaine also bought Jones a small gift and made her a
card. The items were delivered to Jones' office on Monday.

The light-tan mug has a picture of a fuzzy bunny hugging itself, over the
caption "Jesus Loves You." 

When Jones opened the light green envelope, written in blue cursive was
"Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride," a lyric from a
country song. It also said "thank you" and was signed by Sandaine and four
of his friends in the homeless community.

Sandaine and Jones were reunited on Thursday. During a private moment, he
told her "you touched my heart" by telling him about the problems in her
life. When Jones started to cry, he brought one arm around her shoulders and
comforted her.

Jones again offered to help Sandaine. The homeless man replied: "The help I
ask for, I pray to God about."

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
sideways, chocolate in one hand, a drink in the other, body thoroughly used
up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO. What a ride!'"