Something happened to me today that made me feel great.

I was on my way home from work this afternoon, and about five minutes into a 45 minute trip, I heard this awful noise under the hood and my power steering went out. I assumed the serpentine belt had broken but there was nowhere convenient to pull over. I was getting anxious, because with no fan, my engine was beginning to overheat. Up ahead, I spied a public driveway, and immediately pulled in. It was a small, run-down, Baptist Church.

I got out of the car, popped the hood, and sure enough the belt lay twined through all the pulleys at the front of the engine. Great.
I had no tools, no cash, etc. I pulled the belt out and it wasn't broken, so I decided to try to force it back on and get to the nearest garage I could find. While I was working, an older man walked up behind me and inquired about my trouble.

I explained what I was up to and I went back to work. As I was getting more and more frustrated at my inability to accomplish anything, the man returned with a complete set of wrenches, box of rags, and a stepladder. He proceeded to explain to me an easier way to do what I was attempting, and although one of the idler pulleys was the culprit, we managed together to get that pesky belt back in place in order for me to nurse it a few more miles.

The man was the 65 year old pastor of the Church, and it is what he did next that made my day. He followed me 5 miles to an auto parts store, got me a discount on the part and a tool I needed that he didn't have, and supervised me while I replaced it. (The manager of the auto parts store was one of his neighbors.)

I cannot tell you how grateful I was for this incredible act of kindness to a complete stranger, and a scruffy one at that. Had he not been familiar with my vehicle, I would have spent at least another hour in his lot, just trying to get it on the road to find a place to get it fixed, not to mention the money I was able to save by fixing it myself. It's really humbling to have something like this happen, and I am always so up-lifted when it does.