The Power of Ordinary

It happened so quickly that I almost didn’t realize the significance.   A typical Saturday afternoon, zipping in and out of stores taking care of the myriad of errands that seem to be part of every weekend.

I was getting ready to depart from a favorite local business, behind a young boy, about twelve or thirteen years old. He was walking out the door, following a slightly older looking girl into the small parking lot.  I noticed that the older girl, rather than holding the door open, had let the door almost slam on the boy as he was walking out of the store.  There was a quick look of surprise and hurt on his face as the door almost hit him.  It was a windy day and the way the wind was blowing made the door more difficult to control. Then, as I walked out, this young boy turned and held the door for me, with a shy smile.  I thanked him and the moment was over.

But wait, what just happened here?  Something pretty amazing. This young boy’s face had shown his distress at having the door almost hit him and yet a second later he turned around and made sure I did not have the same experience.  Within no time at all, he had processed his hurt and made the decision to make things better for the next person, who just happened to be me.

Such an ordinary gesture.  And yet so powerful that I hope I always live up to the example set by a young boy on a windy day.