Help My New Friend Norman Get Back on His Feet

I am standing up for a new friend of mine, Norman, who is one of those guys who takes things in stride and tries to make the most of it. He has hit some difficult times, yet continues to try what he does best... and handle it all himself. This fundraiser is intended to extend a hand of love and support to a good man who has been fighting a good fight all of his life, has taken blow after blow, and is still doing all he can to not buckle at the knees and let it all come crashing down.

This is for Norman!

All donations are going through our 501(c)3 and go 100% to Norman and his family.

So, this is a first for me. I don't usually go out of my way to set up fundraisers for people I have only known for a month or two... actually, I have only done fundraising for a close friend about 12 years ago... and that was the only time. However, I met a man at the beginning of March who I felt I was prompted to connect with, and have since gained a great friendship. We have been able to connect in a way where it was almost as if we were instant brothers. Let me tell you a little about him...

Norman was some random stranger that I felt compelled to go up and talk to back on a Saturday in the beginning of March... I didn't know why, other than it felt right and I felt that he could possibly, or I could possibly, get something out of it that would be good for one of us or both of us. It was one of those rare moments where I just felt led to meet him that afternoon.... or he to me.

He happened to be on a lunch break at the Deseret Industries (Similar to a thrift store like Salvation Army) when I pulled in. He was outside talking to his wife, and seemed to be in a little bit of a heavy conversation. They weren't creating a scene, but it seemed by his body language that there was a little stress there. So, I felt I should stop and talk with him. I'm a big guy so it had to be a little confusing why this man was just standing there waiting for them to get done with their conversation. After a minute his wife drove off and then Norman walked up to me and asked "Can I help you with something?"

After getting past the awkward "I am not sure why I am here, but would you mind telling me about yourself..." introduction, Norman paused and looked me over... and then in an instant decided to open up, tell me about himself, and we had a wonderful conversation and connection. He is very positive and upbeat even though his circumstances would typically merit a negative energy. He told me about his wife who is from Mexico, and their daughter that is in high school, and how much he wants to provide for them and be a good husband, and father.

He shared with me some of the struggles he had been having... he didn't just come out and say it... I just kept asking him questions to try to explore things and find out why I felt God wanted us to connect. He never asked for any handouts. He is in his late 40's or early 50's, and has just had a line of bad luck, or unfortunate events happening in his life.

His family has a history of heart problems, and recently the doctor had been running tests on him and he was to find out any day now if he needed to have open heart surgery. He struggled a little with his breathing while we were talking to each other. The only car that he and his wife owned stopped working and was in the shop getting fixed. So the repair shop had given them a little loner car, which they kindly allowed Norman and his wife to use free-of-charge. Norman and his wife attempted to start a cleaning business last year, but they didn't have any luck getting it up and running... and now without their car they would really struggle to get it going. Norman doesn't make a lot of money at the place where he works... despite that I could tell how much working there meant to him. He was a manager and he works with men and women who struggle in one way or another, and this is one of the first places they go to get some work experience and get matriculated into society.

Norman has hit some hard times and things have stacked up for months despite all of his best efforts. There he is without a car trying to figure out how to pay a $3,000 bill, and cover all of his other normal expenses, worried about his health, worried about his wife and daughter, and through our conversations over the past few weeks I came to find out that Norman has never felt like he has had any true friends.

It is my hope that we can come together and help Norman at this time, and show him that people care about him, and about his family. I know that you don't know Norman. I think if you knew his true story and saw the Norman that I have been able to see, it would be easy to want to show up for him and let him know that it is easy to be his friend.

All I am asking is that you take a minute and allow yourself to dare to care. Whatever that looks like for you. That doesn't mean you have to now donate $100's to Norman... it may simply mean saying a prayer for him, or some other gesture to show support. And maybe it's not showing care to this Norman... instead it might be to simply give pause and think about the Normans in your life that could really use a friend, or even just some kindness today...and go give it to them in your own AWESOME way!