Small and Simple Things

Last night Kim and I attended an EXCELLENT fireside (evening church-related, non-worship service meeting) about an original play our Stake (group of church congregations) will be preparing for during the next few months and performing in mid-April. The name of the play is "Small and Simple Things" and is about people doing easy and kind things to help other people, and how this can help to truly make the world a better place. This morning when Kim and I had our family prayer before I left for work, we prayed that we would have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and would be able to discern and respond to the promptings of His still, small voice, and that if it be God’s will, that we might be instruments in His hands to bless other people today. Not withstanding the prayer, most of the day was rather ordinary, albeit very wet. We did enjoy attending a surprise 16th birthday dinner for our granddaughter Kaylee. On the way home from dinner, I decided to fill up my car with gasoline at the Arco station on the corner of Tustin and Palmyra. As I was filling up my car, I was aware of a large person standing at the rear of a blue Toyota FJ Cruiser 4x4 banging loudly on something metallic. I briefly wondered whether he might be trying to break into the vehicle, but when I saw that the rear tailgate was already open, I figured he must have keys and dismissed the thought. As I was leaving the parking lot, I could see a tire iron in the person’s hand and realized they were trying to change a flat tire. I then noticed that this large person I had thought was a “he” had long stringy blond hair and curves in a couple of places that made me wonder whether “he” was looking more like a “she”. So, I rolled down my rain smeared window and asked if any help was needed. The strong, low frequency response, along with the red nail polish on the fingernails of the very large hand holding onto the tire iron led me to believe this person was either a transvestite or a cross-dressing man. “I don’t know, I’ve never done this before” was the reply. I felt I should park my car and see whether I could be of any assistance. I introduced myself and Kara did the same. Kara had successfully removed the spare tire mounted on the tailgate of the vehicle, but only after applying a lot of force to shear off a lug bolt whose nut was seized, possibly due to overtightening with an impact wrench. I helped Kara loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire by standing and jumping on the small lug wrench for each nut. We then turned our attention to how to raise the vehicle. The small stock jack that Kara was attempting to use for the first time looked like a toy. We raised it to its full height and quickly realized that without an elevating platform on which to place the jack, there was no way that short little jack was going to even reach the frame, little less raise it enough to remove the large flat tire. Kara made a comment about having once been a AAA member, but the membership had lapsed. This jogged my notoriously poor memory and I remembered that current AAA members, like myself, could summon roadside assistance for other people as long as the member stays on scene until help arrives and shows their membership card. So, I called AAA and ordered roadside assistance for Kara. While we were waiting, Kara called the Post Office to report the delay getting to work on time. Kara works nights repairing mail sorting machines. We had a nice conversation and got to know one another better. Eventually the tow-truck arrived. While the driver was jacking up the vehicle with a floor jack he brought with him, I was mentioning to Kara how most of the time when I stop to ask people whose cars are broken down if I can be of assistance, they take one look at my height and decline the offer and tell me they’ve already summoned help that should be arriving ANY MINUTE. Ok, I get it. I wouldn’t want a family member of mine putting themselves at risk with a large stranger, either. Kara replied that all of the who-done-it TV shows make us all suspicious of one another. I agreed and said something to the effect that all the Police/Detective shows on TV make us think that there are murderers everywhere. The driver, who was still working to remove the flat tire, apparently only clearly heard my last few words, and responded, “What was that you said about murderers”? I then repeated that my offers to help people are often declined, because I oft times frighten them, and then I added that it doesn’t help when I wear a black leather jacket on a dark and rainy night. The driver then replied that I “looked like a wise guy, as in a member of the mafia”. I laughed out loud! That's what I get for being tall, wearing black, and getting a short hair cut. No wonder the tow truck driver was nervous if someone he thought looked like a hitman was talking about murderers! The AAA driver soon finished fixing the flat tire. Kara sincerely thanked me for stopping to help. I told Kara to pay the kindness forward to someone else who needs help. Its nice to know that unplanned, small and simple acts of service not can not only help others, but can be answers to our own prayers.