Helping Out the Next Guy!

I won't provide any visuals on today's blog. I just wanted to keep it anonymous. I helped out a stranger today. I was amongst a group of able bodies who could have extended a hand but ignored the choice. It wasn't a major issue but I felt the need to act. I visited a government office today. It was a rainy day. Since the building was not yet open a line of rain-drenched people stood out in front, waiting feverishly to be let inside. I saw this line from afar as I parked my vehicle. My vehicle was warm and acted as a great shield from the rain. Most people had umbrellas or wore hoodied jackets. I guess they were as prepared for the rain than they will ever be. However, what caught my attention was a gentlemen hovering on the other side of the doors. He chose to cower on the other side of the building to avoid the wet wind that flowed from behind the backs of those who waited in line. He wore no jacket and he had no umbrella. At first, I almost mumbled to myself, "How come you didn't prepare for the weather? Did you not see the enormous gray clouds hovering from above?" I wanted to mumble the words while I sat in my car and stared at him. Yes, that's what stood out to me;  not the amazing line that wrapped around the side of the building and into the parking lot.

There was this little angelic tugging in my gut. It is the tugging I get when I want to help someone. You see, I am a natural philanthropist. It wasn't time to go inside. The hallway, that could have easily fit the entire line of people and then some within its wall, sat emtpy. Folks outside peered into the glass doors as if the inside walls were made of gold. But, my attention lied with the man who stood on the other side wet. He reminded me of a wet mutt that wandered into town during a hurricane, of course, to be stranded on all four sides by a massive flood. Then he would stand on wobbily legs on a think piece of wood and floating down the street, wailing for help in a language only a dog can understand.

I decided to get out of my vehicle early. I grabbed my bright blue umbrella. Well, it could only fit one person under it. I was wearing a hooded jacket. Therefore, I can do a little sacrificing if I didn't quite fit once I squeezed him under it. I walked up to him. He gave me a weird look because I was a stranger and he wasn't quite sure what I was going to say to him. The first words out of my mouth was, "You want to share my umbrella?" Part of me would have been just a little bit embarrassed if I got turned down. I could certainly see that a part of him had too much pride. He hesitated but realized that the rain was not going to let up. Besides, he probably said, 'Hey she's cute...I guess I will do that.' Okay, I'm just fantasizing for a moment. Disregard that. He accepted my hospitality even though it was under the shield of an umbrella. Boy, the feeling of helping someone was grand. We introduced ourselves while underneath the umbrella. I was just dropping off a package. But we said our goodbyes with a smile. Perhaps we will meet again. All I know, from this point I will be going home to listen to Rhianna's Umbrella song. :)