Most of you have heard of Joseph Novak. He is kind of a "name" here in Albany. He was on the board at LBCC, ran for State Rep, etc. He owns a restaraunt here in town. He came to the U.S. from Hungary after the Communists took over. Anyway, I see him once in a while buying food at Shop N. Kart for his restaraunt. He is always very friendly to everyone. Yesterday he was coming from the parking lot as I was coming out of the store. He took a grocery cart and then proceeded to pick up a few other carts that had been misplaced, and gathered them up and pushed them to where they belonged.
It was a small deed but it made me think. As important as he has been in this community, he must not feel too important to serve others. I also thought of how we never know who may be watching us and who may be inspired to try a little harder, be a little kinder, be a little more helpful, by just watching us. It is not that we should be "good" so that others can see us, it is that when we become the type of person who is just "good" because that is the kind of person we desire to be, we will do those things without thinking aboutit. It will just become who we are. It is not an act and that goodness can inspire other people.
Some little kindness we do may make a difference in someone else's life.
Mr. Novak will never know that his act of service was an inspiration to me. I thank him for his example and hope that someday I will be a little more like him.
MOM
1 comment:
Mom,
Good post, and good story. I've been reading a lot about ethics, and how essentially our choices should be based on ending or decreasing the suffering of other people. It's an interesting question to ask yourself--how is the way I'm living improving the lives of others? Or, how am I helping to reduce the suffering in the world? The answer might be found in the little things, like by putting your cart back where it belongs!
Stephen
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