"I will not hide my tastes or aversions. I will so trust that what is deep is holy. … If we follow the truth, it will bring us out safe at last."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
He didn't have to do it, but he did. I don't know why, but I am thankful that he did.
It was Saturday, March 19. I remember it well. I was on the way to Charlotte to attend a Dale Carnegie trainer refresher and had left early enough to arrive well before the 9 a.m. start time.
Along the way, near Mocksville, I noticed I was low on gas. No problem. I would pull over and fill up. "Oh shoot," I said. I had left my wallet at home.
I could hear my wife's voice (and see that look on her face), even though she was not traveling with me — "What were you thinking?" I was shaking my head now, really focused on what to do next.
I pulled into a station and asked for help. I know my credit-card number and figured the attendant would allow me to make a purchase, after hearing my story, and I would be on my way. That didn't happen.
"Sorry, we can't do that anymore," she told me. "We must have a card to swipe."
Hmm, what now?
I usually keep some spare change in the car and was able to put together about $2.80. I was shaking my head again and had to laugh at myself, as that was not enough to buy a gallon of gas.
It would help, though.
My dilemma now — I am too far from home to make it back and I don't have enough gas to make it to Charlotte and no money or credit card. What to do? If I could just get to Charlotte, it would not be a problem. I could then get some help from my fellow trainers.
That's when I pulled off on exit 36, I believe, in or near Mooresville. I would try my plan one more time. I pulled into a Shell station convenience store and shared my situation with the attendant (Ali). The answer was the same — we can't do that anymore.
I had other options, just not good ones to get me to Charlotte in time for my training session. I could call my wife to come and help (I didn't want to exercise that option). My nephew lives in Charlotte, so he could have come to my rescue, too.
Fortunately for me, I didn't have to use those lifelines; Ali provided one, unexpectedly. It must have been the look on my face (what am I going to do?), or my body language (hopeless) or some utterance (deep sigh of resignation) I made that moved him to action.
As I turned to exit the store, he spoke up. "Would $10 help?" he asked. He didn't have to, but he did. My response, as I stood facing him, not believing what I heard — yes. I promised him that I would return one day and pay him back, and I gave him my business card.
I have thought a lot about Ali and his gesture of kindness to a total stranger, me. I had not been back that way until recently, and each time I remembered him I felt guilty that I had not repaid him yet.
Well, two weeks ago I had the chance. I stopped by the store only to find out that he moved to another location. The attendant gave me his name and telephone number and I called him. I thanked him again and explained that I promised to pay him back and was nearby. He remembered me, where I was traveling from that day and was genuinely surprised that I had found him. Apparently, that was payment enough for him.
And then he surprised me again, telling me to give the money to someone in need. In other words, pay it forward. He repeated the fact that I found him and called and was moved by that.
I have been thinking about his act of kindness. He didn't have to do it, but he did. That's unmerited favor. Like me, someone is in need, and $10 is the bridge to help.
Ali, thanks!
PS: I am off for the month of July. I will be back in August. Enjoy your summer.
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