I intended to provide an unexpected kindness on this day – the celebration of William Jefferson Clinton’s 65th birthday.\u00a0 Random kindness where there is a real need.\u00a0 The only thing more “clinton-esque” would be purposeful informed kindness where there is a real need.<\/p>\n
With that intention I headed out on my errands.<\/p>\n
Two cars were ahead of me at the stop sign. Neither showed any inclination<\/p>\n
toward movement.\u00a0 The second vehicle, a white truck,\u00a0 pulled over to the shoulder,<\/p>\n
rolled his window down and shouted to the driver at the stop sign, “Sumpin’ wrong?”<\/p>\n
All I heard in response was a bunch of words punctuated by a “won’t go.”\u00a0 Instantly the second driver was out of his truck, yelled, “Neutral,” and put his shoulder to the back of the stalled truck.\u00a0 I don’t talk truck and I barely talk “car” (although I DO listen to “car talk” on NPR with great engagement) but I saw a Clinton kindness potential.\u00a0 I said if the stalled vehicle was still there when I was done with my post office errand, then I would offer my help.<\/p>\n
Ten minutes later…there he was.\u00a0 Hood up.\u00a0 Puzzled look on his face.\u00a0 And one tired big dog pacing his truck bed.\u00a0 I pulled alongside and here was Bill Clinton’s birthday present, “How can I help?” This was all about the model of Bill Clinton’s capacity for kindness.\u00a0 So I didn’t asked, “CAN I help you?”\u00a0\u00a0 His need for help was obvious.\u00a0 I asked, “HOW?”<\/p>\n
Twenty minutes later we determined his battery was too dead for the kind of charge my old dependable could offer.\u00a0 But I did have one cell phone to his zero…so I offered that for calls.\u00a0 And, I prayed.\u00a0 I didn’t pray that I could start his car but that he would have a good solution.\u00a0 After determining I couldn’t help any more, I saw one thing I COULD do…his big dog was panting fiercely in the afternoon sun.\u00a0 I told him I’d be right back with a big bowl of water for his dog.\u00a0 Just as I was climbing back in my wheels that worked…the answered prayer walked up in a pair of Carhartts.<\/p>\n
When I returned moments later with a big bowl of water…Mr. Answered Prayer Carhartt was walking out of a local business with an extension cord…plugged in to the source inside.\u00a0 He had a battery operated charger (just happened to have one in his truck) and assured the Big Dog’s man that ten minutes with that puppy plugged in – his car would start without a stutter.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I patted the dog, shook the charge-ee’s hand and said to Mr. Carhartt, “I bet being at the right place at the right time is one of your best things.”\u00a0 He just smiled.\u00a0 Real big.<\/p>\n
I walked away, happy.\u00a0 Now if it had been President Clinton offering that kind of assistance – he surely would have been recognized (for years international polls have named WJClinton as one of the most recognizable faces in the world).\u00a0 Me?\u00a0 He had no idea who I was and I didn’t tell him.\u00a0 No name – no sense of obligation.\u00a0 It was a purposeful kindness toward a specified need…and as I went my way home I found myself humming my favorite\u00a0 birthday song.<\/p>\n
Happy Sixty-Fifth Birthday, William Jefferson Clinton.\u00a0 You inspire the world with your kindness, compassion and service.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I intended to provide an unexpected kindness on this day – the celebration of William Jefferson Clinton’s 65th birthday.\u00a0 Random kindness where there is a real need.\u00a0 The only thing more “clinton-esque” would be purposeful informed kindness where there is a real need. With that intention I headed out on my errands. Two cars were…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[380,379,282],"class_list":["post-734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-joys","tag-bill-clintons-65th-birthday","tag-unexpected-kindness","tag-william-jefferson-clinton"],"yoast_head":"\n