Let’s see. For me yesterday it was 30 the best I can count. 2 at my son’s doctor appointment, 24 at work, 1 at the barber shop, 1 at Starbucks and 2 at home.
I am not talking about money, or how many times I could have been caught speeding, but about how many people I came in contact with yesterday, how many folks I had a chance to make a difference with whether it was 5 minutes or 5 seconds.
How often do we hustle around with our faces stuck to our ultra cool smart phones, or just running to get from one place to the next the fastest and forget we are touching people’s lives? I know I am guilty. The guy at Starbucks last night, will I ever see him again? Maybe, maybe not, but I did take an extra 30 seconds of my day and say ” Thanks, I really appreciate your help, have a super evening.” Did that solve all his problems? I doubt it, but for a few minutes, I hopefully brightened his day and showed him that people do matter.
I’ve been reading a book by Coach Tony Dungy. He speaks about how our online communities like Twitter, Facebook, etc. have helped us be connected, but perhaps allowed us to forget we are people and there is life outside of the keyboard. I know, ironic because you are probably reading this blog via one of those communities!
Just think about it tomorrow. How many people you will interact with. What will you leave those people with? A hurry up and get me what I need so I can move on, or a few seconds to say a real Thank You and share a smile with that person. Trust me, you never know what someone is going through. Many stories are out there of folks who are at the end of their rope, don’t know what to do next or even considered taking their life, but a smile or kind word from a stranger pulled them back from the edge. In reading the New Testament and studying Christ’s ministry, I don’t think I have ever found a passage where he didn’t have time. Only passages where He made a difference, one life at a time.
Regular Guy Russ 