Soaked, chilled, and a bit muddy, I stand on a residential street, clothed in business casual attire, next to a kind man who is just helpin' a sister out - my angel. We stare in bewilderment at the tire, having jacked the car up, then down, and then back again, the thing would not budge from the bolts. The changing of a tire has never before made me so defeated and perplexed. But I couldn't help but laugh at the situation and feel blessed to have such a kind stranger giving up a good 30 minutes (or more) of his day to help me get back on the road on a rainy, early morning in late September. Coincidentally, he lived in the house that we happened to park in front of and was able to grab a bunch of his own tools (since we unfortunately didn't have the proper tools). We ended up calling Road-Side Assistance due to the fact that we were not able to get the tire off. But this guy really helped a lot, got all soaked, and dirty, and was most likely late for work. All to help out some ladies in need - of whom he has never seen before! I decided to do something kind back to the man and this is what I came up with...
p.s. - The man's name is Tom.
Question for the day:
What is it that makes us humans so compassionate for each other? Is there some sort of innate yearning for community, living in shared life and struggle with our fellow human beings?
“A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.”
― Desmond Tutu*
― Desmond Tutu*
“Ubuntu [...] speaks of the very essence of being human. [We] say [...] "Hey, so-and-so has ubuntu." Then you are generous, you are hospitable, you are friendly and caring and compassionate. You share what you have. It is to say, "My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in yours." We belong in a bundle of life. We say, "A person is a person through other persons."
[...] A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed, or treated as if they were less than who they are.”
― Desmond Tutu, No Future Without Forgiveness*
[...] A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed, or treated as if they were less than who they are.”
― Desmond Tutu, No Future Without Forgiveness*
*Desmond Tutu Quotes. Goodreads Inc., 2011. Web. 6 Oct. 2011. .
