The Kindness of Strangers

When I was very young, my family had a big boat of a car, yellow I believe. No seatbelts in back. No air conditioning or electric windows. No Sirius radio, CD player, or even cassette player. Yes, I'm that old.

One thing it did have, however, was a CB radio.

My dad was a first responder in a community that relied on volunteers. There was a CB radio in the car and one in the house, and when it called, he responded. He also responded when he came upon a stranded motorist.

That was an age before cell phones. Do you remember those days? Today, if you run out of gas or the car breaks down, you can call someone on your contact list to come to help you. If a stranger pulls in behind you and approaches your car, if you're me, you start to panic. Who is this person and what does he want?

It's an unfortunate state of our culture that our first assumption is evil rather than helpful.

Thirty years ago, our first reaction was one of gratefulness.

Lately I've had some car trouble, and friends repeatedly came to the rescue. I'm grateful. But I'm just as grateful for the kind strangers who help me reach the milk in the grocery fridge and ask if I need anything else, help me carry my laundry from laundry-mat to car, and hold doors for me.

Most of us can take care of ourselves. Or so we think.

How different would the world be if we relied on the kindness of strangers?