Further good deeds

[sonia]

Biking around town Tuesday evening, I encountered two good deeds to be done. I've been telling myself to stop interfering in situations I don't understand and mostly people are handling things just fine, so it was odd to be presented with two situations where I could actually help.

As I was locking up my bike, someone right in front of me was trying to push a car down the street. I offered to help and he eagerly agreed. I left my heavy bag attached to the bike (nervously), and helped push. A third person joined us and we quickly got the car across the intersection and out of the way. Fortunately no one stole my bag while I was doing that!

Then, biking home later that night on a usually-deserted street, a thin woman without a jacket yelled, "Help! Someone help me! Call 911!" She was milling around with a couple of other people in the parking lot of a tall building. I didn't feel safe stopping, but farther up the block I realized I could stop and call 911 on my cell phone safely, so I did. The dispatcher said someone was already on the way, to my relief. Don't know what was going on there, but I hope it got better. I'm glad I don't have to live with ignoring her direct call for help.

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

Stopping to offer help even when you're unsure of your own safety is very kind (and not a little scary).

[sonia]

Thanks. I feel a general responsibility to help (be the change and all that). It was hard to pass by, but my body firmly kept pedaling. I'm glad it felt okay to stop a block away. Talking to the 911 dispatcher was scary too!

[sonia]

Holiday season? Hanukah hadn't even started yet.

It was a fun conversation!

[labingi]

For me, "the holidays," starts after Thanksgiving, but I admit that the rather materialistic American view. :) Yes, it was a good conversation.

[sonia]

For me the incidents had nothing to do with the holidays.

[labingi]

I apologize. I didn't mean to suggest that such action is only or especially appropriate at a certain time of year or that it is not sufficient--or that you to do not consider it sufficient--to act kindly for the sake the kindness without some sort of special motivation. But of course, that is what I suggested. It was a silly, kitschy comment.

[sonia]

Thanks for the apology. Accepted!

I get cranky this time of year about the pervasiveness of one religion's holidays and how they get equated with being American. I know it's easy to forget there are other views.

[labingi]

P.S. I have deleted the comment. If you wish, please have no qualms about deleting the thread.