Random Encounters

When I was in Texas last month for my Mom’s funeral, I was reminded that humanity most often happens in unscripted, random moments. There are rarely pre-planned, thought-out scenarios where we decide we are going to embrace humanity. Generally speaking, the opportunity to show kindness and uplift another human being is a split-second decision.

During my time in Texas, I needed a piece of medical equipment (CPAP mask) that simply can’t be found in a drug store. I found a medical equipment distributor that carried what I needed, but they couldn’t sell it to me because I didn’t have a prescription on file with them.

I had a choice. I could get upset. Or I could tell the woman behind the counter that I completely understood, and realize she wasn’t the one to set that policy. I chose the latter. We ended up having a 30-minute conversation about the state of healthcare in the US, which ended with her telling me about her son being deployed to Iran. She was crying by then. I gave her a hug before I left. And, I believe, we were both better for the encounter.

The second moment came from an encounter in the hotel where I was staying. I went down to the front desk to ask about something (I can’t even remember what), and there was a young woman talking to the hotel clerk. She was pleading her case that she didn’t have any money at the moment, but that she would be paid in three days and could cover the whole cost of the stay. She offered to show receipts from previous pay periods, her current employer, etc. The hotel clerk was reluctant and said she’d (the hotel clerk) need to get permission to accommodate the distraught young woman, but she wasn’t hopeful.

As I was listening to this conversation, it occurred to me this was another reminder that humanity happens in unscripted, random moments. I jumped into the conversation and offered to pay for the young woman’s three nights. Both the hotel clerk and the young woman were shocked. The young woman broke down in tears, hugged me several times, and said something like: “You are an angel. Where did you come from?” Me being the smart ass I am said: “Um, the 3^rd floor.” I paid for her room, decided that wasn’t the best time to ask the hotel clerk my question, and went about my day.

I’m not telling these stories to uplift myself as a paragon of virtue. I’m sharing these stories as a reminder that humanity (and our chance to show kindness) often happens in the smallest of moments when we least expect it. Maybe I changed their lives a little bit for the better (even if for just a short time), but they also changed mine for the better and reaffirmed for me that we can find humanity in the most random of everyday encounters.

Until next week.

Andy

(All written content created the old-fashioned way.)