Undercover Kindness

Undercover Kindness

The First Blind Car Salesman in the State of Arizona

Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. —Mother Teresa

Winter 2023

I was scrolling through TikTok one night when a video caught my eye. A news reporter in Mesa, Arizona, told a story about Sebastian, a blind and partially deaf man who’d been selling brooms, mops, and other items by the side of the road since 2015. Sebastian had many obstacles to overcome. He’d been cheated and given counterfeit bills by would-be customers. Some even stole his brooms.

When cancer attacked his wife, Sebastian started working twice as hard to support his family. Then he lost his van in an accident. (Don’t worry, Sebastian wasn’t driving.) It became a struggle to transport his supply. Sales fell off and his family was evicted from their home.

Still, Sebastian pressed on, depending on the kindness of strangers and friends to help get his merchandise around. “In hot weather, I sell popsicles, and when it’s cold, I sell blankets,” he told the reporter. “Giving up is not in my vocabulary. If God needs me to be a blind guy with a great attitude, that’s what I’ll be.”

I threw some clothes in a bag and headed off to Arizona to buy a broom. Sebastian was at his post on the corner of McKellips and Mesa Drive. “Hello, sir,” I said. “How much for the brooms?”

“I got one for six or two for ten bucks,” he replied. “It’s my Black Friday deal.”

“Wasn’t Black Friday like, three months ago?”

“Yeah, but every day is black to me.” He pretended to look around, selling a joke I’m sure he’d told a thousand times before. It was still funny. You couldn’t help but love this guy.

I made my pitch. “Is there any way you could do one broom for five?”

“Five dollars?” he asked, looking hurt.

“Sorry,” I said. “That’s all I got on me.”

Another sad pause. I was asking to see if Sebastian would give me a deal, knowing that if the internet saw this man, despite all his circumstances, helping me, it could inspire them to rally behind him in unimaginable ways and ultimately change his life. His responses were breaking my heart though, and I nearly blew it and gave in. But he let me off the hook, lighting up the street with his smile. “Okay, man!” he said. “Let’s do it.”

Wow. Good salesman. We exchanged my five-dollar bill for his broom. I ran my fingers over the bright purple bristles. As brooms go, it was a nice one. “How’d you get in the broom business?” I asked.

“No one would hire me because I was blind,” he replied. “So, I created my own job.”

Sebastian told me about his family: two young children and a wife battling to get well again so she could help out. The Bible says a prayer offered in faith heals the sick and lifts the brokenhearted. I want to give and help and listen, but I always ask if it’s okay to pray.

“Of course,” Sebastian said as I took his hand. “Prayer is more important than money any day.”

“Well, guess what?” I said after we prayed. “Because you helped me today, I got a thousand dollars for you right here.”

I pulled the bills from my pocket. Ten hundred-dollar bills fluttering in the desert wind. He probably thought I was joking. I handed them over and waited until he’d closed his fist tight to let go.

He ran his fingers through the stack. “Oh. Ohhh . . .” Sebastian said, slowly realizing it wasn’t a setup. “Oh! Can I have a hug?”

I threw my arms around him and we clapped each other on the back.

“So, you’re selling brooms because you couldn’t get a job,” I said. “What’s your dream job?”

He smiled again, this time with a hint of mischief. “I want to be the first blind car salesman in the state of Arizona.”

•••

There are all kinds of people in the world, dreaming all kinds of dreams. I once had a dream, too, and I believe firmly that when your dreams start to come true, it’s your turn to help somebody else reach theirs. I had to wonder though, A blind car salesman? How’s that gonna work? What car lot is going to take a chance on someone who can’t drive or see the inventory?

I posted a video showcasing Sebastian’s kindness, which racked up millions of views. The GoFundMe I created brought in over one hundred thousand dollars overnight. The next afternoon, I planned to go back to Sebastian’s corner to do a follow-up video telling him about the money people had given after watching his story.

An idea struck. Sebastian had been selling brooms in Mesa for nearly eight years. He was well known in the community, beloved for his humor and positive attitude. I sent out a quick post saying that I’d be surprising Sebastian in a couple of hours, asking locals to come out and join in the surprise. I didn’t know if anyone would show up on such short notice.

When I walked up to that corner, I couldn’t even see Sebastian or his brooms because so many people were gathered around him, a whole flash mob of compassion holding up elaborate handmade signs with messages of love and support. One woman even made shirts. Mesa’s news crew was there to make sure plenty of others also heard his story.

I weaved through the people to him. “Whoa, Sebastian!” Another big hug. “Look at this!”

The crowd spontaneously lined up to buy brooms. Everybody. Even little kids queued up clutching ten-dollar bills to put in Sebastian’s hand.

“There’s a line?” he said. “I’ve never had a line.”

When things settled down, I gave him the news. “People all over the world saw your story and they want to help you out! You now have over a hundred thousand dollars and it’s all for you and your family.”

“WE LOVE YOU, SEBASTIAN!” the crowd cheered.

The street corner comic who was never at a loss for words had none at that moment. All he could do was stand there, trying to take it all in.

“A hundred thousand . . . dollars?” he finally said, a huge smile taking over his face. “Thank you, thank you, thank you . . .”

But the surprises weren’t done. After one man bought a mop, he caught the salesman’s sleeve. “Sebastian, I want to offer you a job selling cars.”

We were all speechless. I had no clue that was going to happen! Sebastian threw his arms in the air and everyone started whooping and hollering. Right there on a street corner in downtown Mesa, Arizona, we all began to dance.