$45

Today's trip to the auto mechanic was lovely.  I took one of our cars in for a minor repair to a body shop that had come highly recommended.  It was a bit of a drive, but a pretty one, with sun and trees the whole way.  I found the shop in a tiny town and was welcomed by the technician with whom I spoke on the phone.  He greeted me by name, and asked if I had had breakfast.  He showed me to the immaculate waiting room.  I was delighted to find that my companion would be a cheerful white dog who lives up the road, but comes to the shop every day just in time for breakfast.

In a few minutes, the owner of the shop greeted me.  I explained the problem, and he went to take a look at it, but not before asking if I'd had breakfast.  The technician was just leaving to get some food, and they wanted to make sure that I could be included if I was hungry.  The owner went to work on the car, while I gave the dog a tummy rub...hands down the best time I've ever spent in an auto repair shop!

My car was ready to go quickly.  The shop doesn't take credit cards, and I didn't have enough cash to cover the cost of the repair.  I asked the owner what I should do, and gave me his business card and  told me to send him a check...for $45.

As I drove home, I marveled at the kindness, trust, and goodness in the world.  For all the shop owner knows, he will never receive my payment.  (He will, though!  The check is already in the mail...really). My whole day is better because of the kindness of these two men.  They trust me to send them what I owe.  They would have gotten me breakfast, and I'll bet that they wouldn't have taken any money for it.  They are good people and I'm glad that our paths crossed.

By moments like the ones that I had at the auto body shop today, I am constantly reminded that kindness, good humor, trust, and goodness really do matter.  The small exchanges that we have every day with strangers color our days, our lives, and our world, for better or for worse.  It matters that we take the time to smile, to be compassionate, to engage someone else in conversation about how their day is going.  It matters that we notice these moments, remember them, and share them.  It really does make the world a better place, little bit by little bit.

Many would disagree with me.  They would say that there are so many problems in the world that taking the extra time and effort to be trusting and kind is naive and pointless.  It's not going to change anything.  I suppose that they have a point.  If you trust someone to send you a $45 check in the mail, sometimes you will get burned.  The money may never arrive.  But goodness is never wasted, and it does change things.  Even if you never see it, your gift of trust will occasionally make someone's day, and the world will become a little bit kinder and gentler.

Thank you, Jerry's Collision in Stem, North Carolina, for making my day--and our world--better!