Friday, October 21, 2016

The Kindness of a Truck in Reverse

"Did I offer peace today?  Did I bring a smile to someone's face?  Did I say words of healing?  Did I let go of my anger and resentment?  Did I forgive?  Did I love?  These are the real questions.  I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come."
~ Henri Nouwen

I was walking on the sidewalk in the downtown area of a nearby city when I stopped as I approached an alley because a truck was blocking my path.  I planned to wait until the driver pulled out onto the street.  But seeing me, the driver backed up the truck and signaled me to pass.  I smiled and waved.  He waved back.  It was a small thing, maybe even a tiny thing, but consider the different impact of an interaction when someone cuts us off in traffic or does something unkind.  Both kinds of interactions stay with us for a bit.  And in this case, every time I think about the truck backing up, I smile.

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