Several years ago I heard a great message from a media professional that addressed why so many articles that we read or see in the media tend to focus on the “bad stuff;” the kind of stuff that at times can leave you shaking your head. The speaker explained that the “if it bleeds it leads” headlines or the "man biting dog" stories sell much better than the normal “dog biting man” stories or features about how nice people can be.
Add it all up, and at times it seems like the relentless focus on what’s wrong with things can be a bit debilitating. That is why I choose to intentionally look for the "what’s right" stories that affirm the reality that there are good people in the world who routinely do good things.
For example, recently I came across an article about an elderly woman in Florida whose scooter broke down in the middle of the storm as she was returning from the grocery store.
Seeing her stranded, four young men who were seasonal workers taking a break from their work jumped in to action. And the picture showing their kind deed says it all. Three men were pushing the scooter and the fourth one was holding an umbrella that shielded her from the rain.
According to Katty Castro, the woman who witnessed this act of kindness and took pictures of them helping her, the men pushed her all the way to her home which was about half a mile from where her scooter broke down. She shared, "I saw them toward the end but their smiles and laughs were contagious. They were not complaining but grateful that she was safe."
The article also pointed out that “Stepping out of one’s self, away from what is convenient and comfortable for the service of another person, takes selflessness. And selflessness is the stuff of true heroes who give of themselves for the good of others. The four men, joyfully pushing the woman and her scooter up the street that day, exhibited selflessness.”
After Castro shared the pictures with the elderly woman who had been helped, the woman called these men “my angels."
Metaphorically speaking, as I read this article I couldn’t help but think that periodically we all come across people with “broken down scooters” in the midst of their own storms. Perhaps those figurative scooters may look like health challenges, or seemingly insurmountable personal or professional issues. For these folks, sitting on that broken down scooter can be a lonely and discouraging experience.
That is why it is important to recognize and celebrate the “scooter pushers” out there - people who are there for us when our scooters break down. Personally, I have been blessed to have a bunch of friends and family members who have pushed my scooter.
This article also triggered another thought: Perhaps there are times in our lives where we will be given the privilege of being a scooter pusher by supporting some people that may be sitting down on their own broken scooter. As Katty Castro noted, “I believe anyone can make a difference and be a hero for someone else. You can start with your neighbors, community, and city.”
These four men helped remind all of us of an important principle: Performing random acts of selflessness and kindness can be a joyful and uplifting experience – for the person whose scooter is being pushed and the person/people doing the pushing.
Is there a possibility that this “scooter pushing” spirit is what the Apostle Peter had in mind when he reminded people that “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.”
