I can’t even talk about the very serious ways in which our world, or at least my country, is going to hell in a handbasket. It’s disconcerting to say the least. But I will say this – my faith was somewhat restored this afternoon by what was likely considered a small thing by those involved, but which, to this observer at least, indicated in a huge way that compassion is not dead and people (at least some of them) are good.

Our neighborhood Walgreens is across a median strip and two lanes from the McDonald’s.  You can get to each store from the other by driving directly across, or you can go to our grocery store by pulling down one of the lanes dividing the two stores. That probably didn’t help you envision the lay of the land, but hey, I tried.

Having left the Walgreens with a much-needed upgrade on migraine medication, I was sitting in my car before pulling out of the parking spot when I saw a car in one of the driving lanes by the median strip with a young, very awkward, very thin but presentable looking white man (maybe 18 or 20) trying to push his car into the McDonald’s or into the Walgreens, just anywhere but where it was. There was a person in the driver’s seat doing the steering, although they seemed confused as to what to do, which didn’t help matters.

The young boy’s shoe fell off while he was ineffectively pushing his car, and as he struggled to put it back on – while making sure the car did not back over him – it was revealed that he had some kind of a splint on his leg…it had come off with his shoe. So here he is, desperately trying to push his car…with all of the embarrassment I’m sure, that goes along with a broken-down car, while having issues with his leg or foot. I felt badly and quite helpless given I am completely useless, and my heart went out to him over his predicament.

Then came the first hero of the day in the form of a black man, in his 40’s maybe, obviously dressed for an office job (slacks, button down shirt, tie, nice jacket) who had been walking from his car into the McDonald’s.  He rushed, and by that I mean he RAN, over to the boy, said a few words, then leaned into the car and said a few words, and then took his place at the back of the car and the two started to heave against it…this time in a direct line for the McDonald’s. There’s an incline there, so they were still having a hard time getting the car to go…when lo and behold, our second hero of the day made an appearance.

This one was slightly more surprising given my rural area, as he was a “hipster” in full “hipster” garb from his well thought out haircut to his lumberjack beard, right down to his cuffed jeans and black boots. He SPRINTED from the adjoining grocery store parking lot to join in pushing the car – and with his help, the three were successful in getting it out of the way and actually into a parking space.  All’s well that ends well as they say. And I was glad.

I was glad to see the boy helped out of a mortifying and difficult situation, and it was indeed heartening to see those two men come to his aid so quickly and with such eagerness to assist – when clearly no-one else was going to and no-one else did.

Oh, I still have a cynical outlook on our society as a whole and especially those leading it. But today…well, today showed me there is hope after all. Hope is surely a good thing.