The Kindness of a Stranger
I had an interesting call on Monday morning; it was a “call from tomorrow.” Our son, Tim, was west of the International Date Line, so it was already Tuesday, in the “wee hours,” when he called.
He is on temporary duty (TDY) in the western and mid-Pacific (Okinawa, Guam, Hawaii) for a couple of weeks. It’s a welcome respite from the recent arctic cold (18 days of – 50° or more for a daily low!), but he had some “R & R” now, & wanted to “call home.”
Like me (if I were there), he wanted to experience true local customs & cuisine. Finding a local, hand-painted flower vase in Okinawa for Nikki was “difficult,” Tim said, “to find something not ‘made in China!’” but he succeeded.
He located a true Japanese restaurant. “Dad,” Tim said, “the menu was written in Japanese hieroglyphics, with just a little bit of English to help us guys out!” Listening carefully to the waiter’s broken English description, Tim ordered something that sounded good. He knew how to use chopsticks; Cheryl and I have trained our boys well! The meal that came out of the kitchen confused him. “Dad, we had to cook it ourselves!”
He putzed, and he fiddled, and managed to figure out what to do. Tim (at six-foot-four) was truly a “Baby Huey” amongst the diners. A kindly gentleman, dining with his family, noticed Tim’s confusion, and came over and offered to help him. Neither knew the other’s language. With hand signals and facial expressions (“There were a lot of charades, Dad.”), Tim gratefully accepted his help. The kindly gentleman cooked Tim’s food that way it was supposed to be done.
All Tim knew to do was to put his hands together, bow slightly, and say “Thanks” (in English, of course!). “One doesn’t tip here, Dad. It’s considered ‘bad taste.’”
The stranger served Tim, out of the goodness of his heart, for the pure joy of serving another. The stranger’s reward: Tim’s grateful heart. The stranger “profited” in nothing that a Westerner would consider valuable.
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) God’s principles of human conduct are universal. They work. Wise is the people that recognize God’s ways and practice them!
I believe that man has this deeper code of ethical conduct in his heart, planted there by God. I believe that this is part of what being made in God’s image is all about. Jesus, through His Gospel, calls man to express this deeper spiritual desire. Only He can call us to this higher plane.
Our daily lives are filled with such examples and opportunities, if we are looking. God help us to be aware! God help us to be involved!
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