Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
– Luke 12:43-44
There have been some recent events that got The Region Business community chattering. Watercoolering.
On more than one occasion I’ve been asked about the situation because of my resourceful insight. So before the events flare up for its upcoming round of speculation, I will give me take on the events:
Last night I went and bought groceries at the local store. Bagels, apples, nothing spectacular.
It was 11:00pm on a Sunday night and the checkout girl Walmart-greeted as I walked in. I thought I was coming in late and she was feigning her happiness. But she was sincere. Smiling, humble, gracious.
Fearing the wrath of the employees – for I’ve been on that side of the time clock – I scrambled to get to the essentials before hustling back so they could get home sometime tonight too.
But as I got slid into her line, she greeted me as soft and penitent as when I first arrived. As did the gentlemen in front of me, looking worn from his fast food gig as he happily scrambled up the change to buy his bag of pretzels.
During the transaction, the gentlemen was raving about a contest in which he just won a car.
“The others, they wanted the Caddys. But I didn’t, you know? I don’t want to pay for those repairs…my uncle has a Caddy…I’m glad I got the Buick.”
– was the gist of message.
I said, “No, I hear ya’,” I said as I took my receipt and started bagging my groceries.
The whole time I kept thinking that something was different about this conversation. This wasn’t an ordinary lottery. But before I could sharpen my thought, the gentlemen bagged his bag, apologized for being in the way, and took off before I could chuckle at his absurd politeness.
Then I turned back to the lady.
The checkout girl spoke with almost a sheepish cadence as if she was afraid of getting into trouble. I wanted to apologize.
“I’m sorry for that.”
I finally got my chuckling out when I said there was nothing to be sorry for.
Then it all made sense.
She said, “We used to live together at the (name omitted on purpose) shelter. He just won one of the cars at the donation auction there. Now he can drive to work.”
(I think I get that quote close to correct.)
She went to apologize and I said, “It’s a great story.”
I should have said, “That’s the most beautiful story I’ve heard in a long, long time.”
I would have used more detail but it wasn’t my story to tell. I feel guilty for telling as much of it as I did and I hope their success story continues and they get to tell it in great detail to a great many people many, many times because it’s such the story worth telling.
Being a child whose mother benefited from President Carter’s vision of welfare, I can’t not be touch by that. I can’t not defend that.
These are the stories we need to watercooler about.
These stories of people getting back up, battered and bruised. And getting their hands back into the dirt. And of the many great charities and churches doing good works to help these people who should never have had to suffer.
These are the people I want to rave about, talk about at length, and support and defend with unrelenting passion and vigor if they fall under the mercy of the positioning of lesser people.
These are the people worth commenting about. These are the stories that should be getting the pages of column inches
instead of the petty puff pieces that pander and placate to the public’s prayers to parade vicariously through pirates.
“Second star on the right, and straight on till morning.”
– J. M. Barrie
With the thousands of people in The Region alone still suffering the ripples of corporate indulgence, that last thing I want is to be reminded of it, again. Or to give it anymore press.
There are too many other pilgrimages to promote.
Who’s with me?
(the sad truth is that if this story gets any traction, it won’t be because of the good souls I met at the grocery story last night)
Nat, this is a beautiful story, one that people need to hear and think about. Sometimes what seems like the smallest blessing can bring the greatest change in someone's life. Thanks for sharing!
Nat,
Great piece – cool insight into the moments that teach.
Chris
Great story. There's nothing wrong with you sharing it because you went on to talk of who it inpired you. I wish the evening news would cover more positive stories like this. (similar to ValpoLife.com)
Kudos on the alliteration too. 🙂
This is a great story Nate, and it's pretty much the reason why I don't read hardly any of the paper. I'm sick of pretty fluff pieces.
I'm happy for those two.
Thank you, Gilinda.
It's always the little things. Always the little things. Makes me wonder what I'm missing 🙂
thank you good sir. Just another example of Valpo Life 🙂
When I get going and feel passionate, the alliterations come out. I think of Dr. King's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and how my professor taught how King used literary tools to express his point. Never forgot it. My brain automatically switches to alliteration.
Not that I can convey with the same poignant as the good Dr.
And I was hoping people were catching why I used “P” words “PP”
I just hope they can keep the train a-rolling.
Then I will vote for them
Wow… that is amazing!
Shows a lot about your heart…and what you're paying attention to…thanks for the vivid portrayal of those special moments, people, and connections that are all around us!
Hi Nat, shows a lot about your heart…and what you're paying attention to…thanks for this vivid reminder of the wonderful people, moments, and connections that are all around us!
awww. go on, KP.
no, now…go on 😛
thank you, Good Dr.
I'm trying 🙂
That was a great interaction between the three of you. One more reason we need to remember that we're all people in this together. Some are up, some are down. And we need to hear more stories like this. The more details that are shared (barring names, etc), the better. Details are what help things hit a little closer to home for each of us.
Nate, your writing in this case was surpassed by your ability to notice. Great job noticing and then giving us a glimpse of a real life real world inspiring story.
Nat, thank you so much for writing this–for taking the time out to recognize the real people and the real pain in our community. Most do not want to even recognize it, wanting to claim that it's all hunky dory all the time, but it is not.
The people who are not talked about, who go unrecognized and who never seem to get the credit they deserve are the “regular” people in our city, the average resident. The ones who fall, who tumble and crash–but they get back up and try it again. They are the real story of our city….the story that goes untold and covered up.
Please, if you can every now and then, please write some more about them. If only we could get the raw message of our city out there, nothing sugar-coated and prettied up, but the raw message of the real people here–maybe they'll get the credit and help that they deserve.
Thank you for being real, Nat.
Great story, Nate! It wasn't what I was expecting to read this morning but a pleasant surprise none-the-less. Its good to know that beautiful events take place and that there is someone like you there to witness and share them.
It's way too easy to think about our own problems, and count how many things are going wrong… focus on what makes our lives difficult. Something I catch myself doing from time to time. Then, I see a story like this… and it makes me think.
A few months back, I saw a young pregnant woman holding up a sign asking for help, because she just lost her job and had two other children to feed. I don't often cry at what I see… but I did cry that day, as I gave her what I had.
In spite of our suffering and our hardships, we are blessed more than we (or I should say… I) choose to see. Thanks, Nat for such a positive reminder that we have been blessed. On that note… I've had something on my heart for awhile relating to this very topic… I'll share it soon. Maybe… since we're building such a great community of friends in NWI… we can enjoy and share the stories… but just maybe… we can also find a way to make a difference.
I like reading about real stories about real people. All too often it's easy to focus on things that don't really make that much difference in our lives and forget about the little things that add up to make our communities the way they are (or could be).
Thanks for sharing the story with us Nat!
Fantastic piece Mr. Finn.
I'll comment after work. Great comments today. Great stuff, y'all. Great Stuff! Thank you so much!
Yeah, buddy, I see what you're saying. But I didn't want to steal somebody else's story. It'd a felt like I was picking flowers out of someone else garden. I hope we get to hear it again, from their own words.
Hopefully, that means I noticed quite a bit 🙂
Thank you, pardner
I'll do what I can to keep my eyes open. Thank you for finding my observations worthwhile. I'm sure I don't see nearly what you see. But I saw similar once upon a time.
I admire you.
Which reminds me, I have a Twitter gravatar to swap out.
You still owe me like 14 lunches.
But thank you for the sentiment.
Thank you, Michelle.
It's never easy, and it won't get easier any time soon.
Proof that despite our great Republic, it only took a few to mess it up for so many.
thank you for taking the time to read it, sir.
This is why you lead the blog carnival 'round here 🙂
Thank you Mr. Tatgenhorst