Moments of Compassion

The tire center was a bustle of activity when I dropped my car off, that December morning. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who had decided to buy tires amid the craziness of the holiday season and, on this particular day, the cool morning air mixed with good-natured customers made this sizable warehouse somehow seem festive. 

When I returned, later that afternoon to pick up my car, the center was deserted except for the clerk who hurried to retrieve my paperwork and keys. Moments after he left, a woman entered the building and joined me in line. She appeared to be a bit overwhelmed with this large tire-filled warehouse that, by now, had lost its holiday spirit. When I acknowledged her presence, with a smile, she immediately leaned closer and softly said, "This is my first time buying tires." She went on to explain that she had recently become a widow after 50 years of marriage to a man who had always  handled matters with the car. To complicate the issue, her single bald tire had prompted a multitude of solutions from grandchildren, friends, even the car dealership. I had only an instant to try and reassure her that someone would take the time to answer her questions before the clerk returned with my paperwork and keys. She had begun to explain her dilemma before I was out of the door.

For the rest of the day, it was hard for me to get the whole experience out of my head. I knew that the clerk would hear the explanation of her tire problem, but would he also hear the anxiety in her voice? Would he be able to push aside the demands of his day to give her the extra time, she might need? Would he realize the difference he could make in her life... today...and the confidence it might give her to face the next unfamiliar situation...tomorrow?  Would he even care?

Sometimes the world seems harsh and we need it to be kind.  Any one of us, at any given moment, has the power to make a difference if we take the time to recognize the need and extend a moment of compassion. It's always the right thing to do. It always matters.

 May your new year be filled with opportunities to demonstrate moments of compassion towards others and may you experience them, in abundance, yourself.