Current Connection: Feb 25

     When you go to big cities, there are always homeless people lined up on the streets jingling their cups for spare change to make it through the week. On the CNN website, in Dana Ford's article, Donations pour in for homeless man who returned diamond ring she explains a story of true character that we do not often see in the world. 
     As we all know, homeless people do not have much money. When the opportunity of "quick cash" arises, they usually take that opportunity. However, Billy Ray Harris did not. Ford explains, "Well-wishers from around the world are opening their wallets to a homeless man who returned a diamond engagement ring to its rightful owner, after she accidentally dropped it in his donation cup." If I had lost my engagement ring, I would be, literally, freaking out. Even without my class ring I feel naked.

     Now, I'm thinking how on Earth did this woman lose her ENGAGEMENT RING? She had better have a pretty good reason, and she did. Ford states, "She almost never takes it off, but it was giving her a bit of a rash so she did, zipping it in her coin purse for safe keeping....Later, she absentmindedly emptied the contents of that purse into the collection cup of Billy Ray Harris, who is homeless and often stays under a bridge in Darling's hometown. It wasn't until the next day that she realized her ring was gone." People would probably think that Harris would run off with the ring, cash it in, and be set to live comfortably for a while. Despite his title and everyone's assumptions, Harris did not run away with the ring but instead he gave the ring back when Sarah Darling came inquiring for her lost treasure the next day. 

     To show them their thanks, Darling and her fiance helped Harris out a little. In her article, Ford says, "To show their appreciation, Darling and her husband set up an online fundraiser for Harris. The donations and praise have poured in....So far, in about a week, more than 3,400 donations have been made, totaling nearly $95,000. The money will be given to Harris at the end of a 90-day campaign." That is one lucky man!!! Looks like having good character pays off in the end!

     If I were homeless, I would have ran away with that thing as fast as possible. However, I am glad that there are still people like Billy Ray Harris in the world. 

     There is a saying that says "what goes around comes around" so I guess Billy deserved what came around for what he did. Hopefully, there are a lot more people like him.