Turn Around

Have you ever driven past someone who needed help?

I was recently talking with someone I coach who shared this story with me.

He and his wife were driving along Route 30 on their way to purchase a new vehicle when they saw an older gentleman stopped in a lane of traffic. His flashers were on, his hood was up, and cars were simply driving around him.

They did too.

At first.

But something didn't feel right.

At the last second, he pulled into a nearby parking lot, got out, and ran back across Route 30 to check on the man.

About that time, two younger guys stopped as well. Together, they pushed the disabled vehicle out of traffic and into a parking lot. Before he could even turn around to thank the other two guys, they were back in their vehicles and gone.

He asked the gentleman what he thought was wrong.

"I might be out of gas."

Good news. He could help with that.

It was extremely hot, and the man was already sweating and tired. There was no way he was going to walk very far for gas.

"Give me 15 minutes. I'll be back."

He ran back to his wife and told her they needed to make a pit stop.
They bought a five-gallon gas can, filled it, returned to the parking lot, and put the gas in the man's vehicle. He gave him the new gas can, waited until the vehicle started, and then noticed a U.S. Army Veteran hat on the dashboard.

He thanked him for his service.

And they went their separate ways.

I love this story.

Not because he did something extraordinary.

Because he turned around.

He had somewhere to be. He had plans. Hundreds of other people probably had good reasons for continuing on their way too.

But helping people is rarely convenient.

The Good Samaritan wasn't defined by what he believed should be done. He was defined by his willingness to stop and do it.

Sometimes making a difference doesn't require a grand gesture.

It requires noticing.

Stopping.

And occasionally...

turning around.

Who might need you to turn around today?