I couldn't resist the reference to pop culture. And by the way, this post has no relation to the previous one.

I just made my usual late-night run to X-Mart to buy "stuff," and thought I'd make a quick post now that I'm back home.

I doubt my acquaintance Vinnie will ever read this blog. But if you do, then hi Vinnie. I'm glad you stopped in.

Vinnie is a young man doing the best he can. Sometimes I see him gathering carts at X-Mart, wearing one those fluorescent vests and getting a little help from that cart-pushing robot-thing he calls "Buddy." Sometimes he's cleaning the tables at the little dining area inside X-Club. He works hard; he's always sweating and doing his job with gusto. He's glad to have a job. He knows the value of feeling like you're doing your part.

It takes Vinnie a long time to count change when he does his own shopping, and he doesn't have enough money to buy anything you'd call "stuff." He buys food and once in a while some clothes. He knows the value of a dollar.

Vinnie can't drive a car. He isn't qualified. So he rides a bicycle. He knows the value of transportation. He wears his helmet. He knows the simple beauty of being alive.

Vinnie speaks pretty well and gets his point across, sometimes he's really funny without trying to be, and he always speaks sincerely. He knows the value of communication and of being transparent.

Vinnie's big dream, last time we talked, was to someday have his own trailer house with air conditioning and a refrigerator. He knows the value of a comfortable place to call home.

Vinnie knows the value of many things much better than I do. Lots of times he comes to church at the same place I go. Vinnie was formed by the same Loving God as me. That's why he's my brother. I'm going to watch him more closely this year. I think he's here to be a teacher—for people like me.

May God richly bless the special people of the world. They, like children, are the precious ones.