I'm such a sucker to someone who asks for help.
Two weeks ago I was leaving the pharmacy and there was a man around 60-70 with a flat tire in the parking lot who look exacerbated with a flat tire on his older Caddy. It was super hot that afternoon and I asked if he needed help. Yes, he did not have a tire iron. He said since he was not from the area and he was scared to ask for help due to what he's seen in the news about conflicts between people of different skin colors. I loaned him my tire iron from my Chevy Impala. Then his hydraulic jack was leaking so I loaned him my scissor jack. I held an umbrella over him while he changed the tire. As he lowered the jack onto his spare we both realized the spare had a hole in it. Someone loaned him a cheesy air compressor but it would not hold air. So, I told the old feller to put his tire in my car, I drove him to Firestone, bought a new tire for him, and drove him back to his car. (Special thank you to my dear friend at Firestone for giving me a tire at cost.) By now I've realized this chance encounter was not for me to help him, but for him to help me. He was a retired bishop and former teacher at a small seminary school in Houston. He preached the Word the whole time I was with him. He put his tire back on his car and went home to Houston from College Station. I'll likely not forget Mr. Charles Turner any time soon.
This morning I stopped to get gas at a store just off Hwy 6 in Bryan. While I'm filling up, a large man at the next pump island started talking to me asking if I knew how to shoot. Shocked, I looked at him like, "why do you ask?" but before I could say anything, he said, "you look like you can handle yourself. Are you a hunter?" His demeanor was very pleasant and cordial and he was careful to stay several yards from me. I did not answer his question and in the silence he asked if I was from the area. I said I worked here. He asked if I was in security. I just smiled and sensing this was not going to be just a causal conversation I asked if he needed something. Then he gave me some story about how his truck was out of gas and someone let him borrow the Ford Explorer SUV that he was driving and he needed some cash to put gas in his truck to get home to Somerville. I gave him $10 and he got in the Explorer and drove off.
I shook my head and told myself I was a sucker. But, then I thought if $10 was all it took to get him to leave, maybe that was a good thing. Then I thought about his story and the more I thought about it the more unsettled I've become. Something about his departing made me feel lucky and completely naive. I guess I always see the good in people. I looked up and thanked Jesus for protecting me always.
Two weeks ago I was leaving the pharmacy and there was a man around 60-70 with a flat tire in the parking lot who look exacerbated with a flat tire on his older Caddy. It was super hot that afternoon and I asked if he needed help. Yes, he did not have a tire iron. He said since he was not from the area and he was scared to ask for help due to what he's seen in the news about conflicts between people of different skin colors. I loaned him my tire iron from my Chevy Impala. Then his hydraulic jack was leaking so I loaned him my scissor jack. I held an umbrella over him while he changed the tire. As he lowered the jack onto his spare we both realized the spare had a hole in it. Someone loaned him a cheesy air compressor but it would not hold air. So, I told the old feller to put his tire in my car, I drove him to Firestone, bought a new tire for him, and drove him back to his car. (Special thank you to my dear friend at Firestone for giving me a tire at cost.) By now I've realized this chance encounter was not for me to help him, but for him to help me. He was a retired bishop and former teacher at a small seminary school in Houston. He preached the Word the whole time I was with him. He put his tire back on his car and went home to Houston from College Station. I'll likely not forget Mr. Charles Turner any time soon.
This morning I stopped to get gas at a store just off Hwy 6 in Bryan. While I'm filling up, a large man at the next pump island started talking to me asking if I knew how to shoot. Shocked, I looked at him like, "why do you ask?" but before I could say anything, he said, "you look like you can handle yourself. Are you a hunter?" His demeanor was very pleasant and cordial and he was careful to stay several yards from me. I did not answer his question and in the silence he asked if I was from the area. I said I worked here. He asked if I was in security. I just smiled and sensing this was not going to be just a causal conversation I asked if he needed something. Then he gave me some story about how his truck was out of gas and someone let him borrow the Ford Explorer SUV that he was driving and he needed some cash to put gas in his truck to get home to Somerville. I gave him $10 and he got in the Explorer and drove off.
I shook my head and told myself I was a sucker. But, then I thought if $10 was all it took to get him to leave, maybe that was a good thing. Then I thought about his story and the more I thought about it the more unsettled I've become. Something about his departing made me feel lucky and completely naive. I guess I always see the good in people. I looked up and thanked Jesus for protecting me always.
. Usually once a day, sometimes twice a day. I encounter more than my share of people “needing” gas money. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen those same people go jump in a new Navigator or Escalade after I told them no. Now days I tell everyone no. If they say they’re hungry or thirsty I’ll offer to buy them food or a drink, but I’ll never hand anyone cash. The only time I’ve had one get aggressive with me was in Austin, and he quit pretty quickly when he noticed where my hand was.
Comment