Call me an old ball but I note people by their actions way more than their words. I always tell “my little girls” (small group at church) that the way people live is way more important than how they say they live. If they pray on Sunday mornings and then go drink on Friday nights or cuss and talk about sex at the lunch table during school, then their religion is worthless. A boy can say all the right things and get me to smile, but if he’s rude to unlikable people or his family that to me is a huge turn-off. People’s actions speak volumes to me.
A couple of days ago I was following a car on my way to Terra when I noticed he had a “Keep Christ in Christmas” bumper sticker. I always smile when I see religious bumper stickers but I can’t help but wonder if their relationship with God is really genuine. However, as we both turned right on Napoleon Road I noticed the big lineup of everyone trying to turn left into Terra. A thing that has become a tradition for me every morning at 8AM. Still following the car, I realize that there are people who are trying to turn left out of Terra. I instantly feel bad for them as our line is slowly moving and they won’t have a chance to leave till we’re gone.
Following the car we were almost there, and I look up and thinking finally as we have a clear shot to turn left. However, the car is still stopped and waves to the 3 cars who are trying to turn left. They smile and wave back and speed off to their next location. I couldn’t help but smile and wonder who the driver was.
Curiosity got the best of me and I followed (mind you I was already little late for work because of the traffic) the driver to their selected parking lot just so I could see who it was. The driver got out and it was this around 70 year old man. Skinny and bald as a potato but a heart of gold.
I didn’t even have to hear him speak, in fact, I just followed at a distance but I watched as he held the door open for women of all ages and instantly waved to a number of students. I don’t know his name. I don’t even know if he was a student or professor. All I know is that his actions blew me away that day and were contagious to me.
For the very next day, I let somebody through in the traffic.
All it takes is one rock to make a thousand ripples in the water.
