Sitting a few weeks ago in an airport out
west (Salt Lake City), I was reminded that
there are many good people in the world.
People who take care of our possessions
when we have need. People who speak to us
kind words, even when they do not know who
we are. Even when they have no rational
reason to do so. People who help us find our
stuff, the flotsam and jetsam that is critical to
our lives (in our estimation), even when they
do not know who we are. They set aside their
current needs for our current needs. They
stop whatever it is that they are doing—
activities that are important to them—for the
sake of helping you and me with what is
important to us in the moment. They pause
their lives for a bit, solely for the purpose of
assisting you and me in whatever crisis may
have come about in our lives. The premier
fact is this: they help us, even when we have
no idea who they are (and vice-versa), and
when we likely will never see them again.
On that same trip, I listened and watched
in another airport (Houston Hobby) as an
older lady approached a much younger lady
to ask her if she would help her find her phone
(the younger lady is Sydney—I confirmed that
later because I wanted to use her name in this
story). The older lady asked Sydney if she
minded calling her phone, since she (the older
lady) had apparently lost it. [Let’s pause here:
this may seem to many of us but a small and
simple request. But in our world today, we
never know. Folks nowadays are so
disconnected from one another that even the
most common courtesy can come across as
weird or creepy or otherwise far out of
bounds]. Sydney immediately agreed to help.
This was a basic but important human
interaction. And, there are many other
ways it could have gone. The older woman
could have been ignored; she could have
been told no; she could have been verbally
mistreated. All of these outcomes were
possible, and many more. All sorts of
negative encounters like that happen, and
they happen daily. Too often, people don’t
see other people as people, if you know
what I mean. But in this story, Sydney
jocundly said, “Sure.” The older woman
gave her number, and Sydney dialed it.
The phone was soon found, and all was
well.
The recovery of a phone is trifling
compared to what else transpired,
however. Because of the need of one and
the consideration of another, two women—
two human beings—experienced an
affinity. I doubt they will ever see one
another again this side of heaven. But I am
convinced that their cursory contact weighs
momentous in light of eternity.
Demonstrated in that fleeting interaction
was goodness, kindness, humility, and a
willingness to serve and help others.
Maybe I am making too much of this,
but I don’t think so. I don’t know the faith
status of either of those women. But when
I see goodness, kindness, humility, and a
willingness to serve and help others, I
cannot help but think of the transforming
power of the Word of God. I cannot help
but think of Jesus.
And who knows. Maybe these two
ladies will connect again one day. After all,
they now have one another’s phone
numbers…
–Ricky