The Kindness of a Stranger

I work in the legal department of a large insurance company. Part of my job is to provide legal support and training to claims folk across the great State of New York. It was in that capacity that, not too long ago, I got summoned to Syracuse. I started driving from downstate New York in reasonably balmy 40-something degree weather and clear skies. I made it up to Syracuse without incident, got something to eat and settled into my hotel room for the night.

When I woke up the next morning and looked out the window, I thought I was still dreaming; the world was blanketed in snow. Not just a dusting, but several inches worth. I’m not an idiot, I know it’s Winter in New York; but I had checked the weather and no snow had been in the forecast.  As I looked at my buried rental car, a sense of despair overcame me. I had no scraper, no brush, no shovel, absolutely nothing. I glanced down at my flats and trench coat and just knew it was going to be a long, cold, miserable time before I unearthed that car.

I walked gingerly across the parking lot, snow filling my shoes with every step.  And with every snow-filled step, my mood got darker and darker. I finally made it to the car; I used my gloves and a credit card to clear off the frozen snow on the windshield where my eyes would be.  Still, I couldn’t hope to drive like that – there’d be too many blind spots.  I settled into the warming car to think. What to do? What to do?

Then, suddenly, the ice and snow was being cleared away from my windshield!  Then, the side and rear windows. I rolled down my window to speak with the child of God who had decided to perform a random act of kindness for a perfect stranger that morning.  I found out that he worked at the Hampton Inn where I had stayed that night and was getting off the night shift.   He had seen me shuffle across the parking lot in my inappropriate attire and had realized that I would never be able to clear my car, and so, he had come out to help.  I thanked him profusely aloud, and silently heaped blessings upon him. He just shrugged, and with the car now road-ready, he trudged back into the hotel to complete his shift.

I never asked his name, nor is it likely that he will ever come across this blog. But if he ever does: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!