Just A Moment In The Day

Sometimes the essence of our faith can be revealed by spontaneous simple events, not by a miracle or exorbitant transformation.

A few weeks ago, I must admit my ride to downtown on I-35 was spoiled by a driver who leaned into my lane and sharply cut dangerously in front of me.  It didn't bring the best out in me and caused a lingering sullenness.  I continued going downtown, our group picked up grocery donations and then headed to Cherith Brook. 

At 12th and Oak St., I was at a stoplight.  There was a rather forlorn man, tattered, seemingly homeless, older Afro-American man, in a wheelchair crossing perpendicular across the intersection.  There was a slight rise in the center of the road, and the man's strength seemed to just give out.  He just lowered his head and slumped to a stop right in the middle of the intersection.  Before I could even really absorb what was going on, a young woman, probably in her twenties, started from the other direction to cross the same intersection. She walked quickly out to the center, and pushed the man back to the side he was headed.  She pushed him to a safe location on the sidewalk, made sure he was secure, and then nonchalantly just continued to her day and eventually crossed the street. 

Such an unceremonious but kind thing she did.  She didn't appear to look for affirmation, have a look of aggravation, or a look of self-adulation.  She just simply and beautifully took care of another human being in need, as if it was just like breathing the air around her.

My sullenness disappeared and my day became much richer.