Today I drove home from the Oregon Coast. I spend a week there every fall, in the same house that I rent. I go with myself and our dog, and I rest and reflect and read...and be still.
I wanted to begin my 300 mile trek with a full tank of gas so I pulled into a gas station within my first 10 minutes. A man of about 60 with -John- on his service station issued uniform came out to greet me.
Here's a little something about me - I'm not a fan of the question 'how are you?'. Don't care for it as a passing greeting in the morning, when arriving at work. Flows right out of some people's mouth without even thinking about it. I don't ask this question, unless I pose it with an element of care and concern, and usually I will rephrase it somehow. So back to John -
I lean out and hand John my debit card to swipe and I look him in the eye and ask - 'how is your morning going?' and he says right back - 'well I've been up since 12:30 this morning (it is 9:30 am) taking care of my wife, she is ill'. So I step out of my vehicle now so I can face him while he pumps my gas. I inquire further because he is a chatty guy and ask if she has a chronic illness to which he says - 'yes, type 1 diabetes, she has a prosthetic'. So I say how sorry I am about her being ill and how special I think he is because he cares for her. He says they been married 35 years, and I say bravo, this is encouraging for me to hear. I mention that these are uncommon statistics, to be married for so long, and I thank him for caring for her again, telling him that I will remember him and his wife tonight when I pray to close out my day. He thanks me and I get in my car and drive away.
I remembered John all day long, and now into the evening as I close out my day. These are the best interactions, these restore my faith in humanity. This touchstone of grace we can share with others.
Let's bring back the bumper sticker phenomenon that was all the rage a few years back -
Practice random acts of kindness.
