Aesop Totally Had it Going On!!

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop (620 BC-560BC)

Being the wise man that Aesop was, I was earnestly hoping that someone out there was heeding his words as I attempted to reach a destination recently. I was hired to speak at a district conference in August. I had given a resounding, "yes!" when I accepted the speaking invitation. It was a mere hour's drive for me---seemed simple enough. (the key words being "seemed" and "simple")

Soooo -- .on the day of the event, I was making an earnest attempt to mind the directions. I felt a bit of relief when I exited the interstate at the specified point. However, the directions had clearly said to take a left under the bridge after getting off the exit. Hmmm -- where was the bridge, I wondered?? I decided to take a left anyway. I was venturing into a countryside area that was so remote that I didn't even spot a cow grazing peacefully in a pasture. I hesitantly pushed along the small, two-lane road with an intense sense of worry.

At the end of the road, I saw a man stopped in a giant, work truck. I asked him if he knew the address where I was to speak. He frantically said, "I'm lost, too! I'm calling for help now." I looked at him with pleading eyes and said quietly under my breath, (not really..I said it out loud) "But what about me?" We both smiled at each other and wished each other luck. I turned around and decided to just stop the car right there in the road to read the instructions for clarity -- once again. (no problem doing that in such remote wilderness'"did I just spot a kangaroo hopping by?)

I was beginning to feel a sense of panic set in because it was imperative that I be at the location by 9:00 AM to speak. I glanced up and saw a red truck approaching on the other side of the road. As it got closer, I saw an elderly white-haired man driving it. I stunned myself with my pitiful behavior, as I thrust my arm out of the window and began shaking it wildly. The truck drove on past me and then I heard it stop and begin to back up towards me.

My heart was beginning to lift as I watched this elderly man turn his truck off and slowly step out and walk towards me. He looked at me and kindly said, "What can I do to help you?" I was touched to the core by his kind intention. I told him the address and he described in detail exactly how to get there. I thanked him profusely and made my way effortlessly to the talk -- all because of a kind man in a truck who was putting another person's needs ahead of his own.

My experience with the man in the truck will be a continual reminder to me about human goodness. Aesop said it perfectly.
In this fast-paced day and time where we are consumed by the daily demands of life, it is comforting to know that there are people who will go the extra mile to help others in need. We hear the negative aspects of people through the daily news which can leave us doubting the goodness of human nature at times. This recent scenario for me reinforced the concept that there is a wide array of humans with kind hearts who are willing to take the time out to help another. Aesop definitely had it going on!!