helping others

I'm always ready for a disaster.  Always ready for something exciting, a memory to be created, a catastrophe to avert.  It makes life fun to expect the unexpected.  When you have a large family, this is an important readiness-skill to have.    My car ran out of battery juice at Trader Joes tonight and I needed a jump-start.  I stood outside my car and waited for a nice person.  The first one drove into the empty spot next to me and I explained to her I needed help, and could she either help me or leave the spot next to me open for someone else to help me.  I stood next to her car and she didn't answer, just looked straightforward, then looked at me, waved her arm around and shouted, "get out of my way" as she backed out of the spot.  So...you're saying you can't help.

Next two people didn't even slow down to see if they could possibly help.  Me:  "Excuse me, could you give me a jump, my car battery died.  I have cables, and I know how to do it."   Woman: "no, I don't think so".
Me: Same question Man:  "I don't think my car could start that big thing". 
me: same question  Woman #2:  "oh, I really can't".  I'm a little too put off at this moment to ask, "um...why can't you?"  I just can't take any more rejection.
At this point, I really hate California.

Finally a very tall woman in her 60's in a large Cadillac pulls up beside me and I ask her for help.  I tell her that I've asked four other people and they've all said no.  She is flabbergasted.  Then she has an epiphany.  "Were they women?"  she asks.  "Most of them were", I reply.  "Well, that explains it", she says, "women aren't good for sh%*"!  She puts out her cigarette and begins a steady stream of profanities as she pops the hood of her caddy, and we both try to figure out how to get the protective cover off the engine so we can get to the battery.  By this time I love her, and I love the irony.  The other people were clean cut, seemingly nice on the outside but not even willing to slow down to help.  Here is this caddy-driving, potty-mouthed, cigarette-smoking woman who knows a thing or two about life and about helping others.(and about women apparently)

We got my car started in spite of a random man coming over and inserting himself forcefully in front of me to make sure the cables were hooked on properly.  They were.  Me and my new friend exchanged a look.   I tried to be thankful for his "help" and not insulted that just because I am a woman, he felt I  "needed" his assistance.  (I do want to encourage the men of the world to be chivalrous).   After the cables were put away and the hoods closed, we stayed in the parking lot and chatted for a while.  She had lots of good advice to give me, and lots of stories to tell.  We connected.

Next time I'm in a crisis, or I have the chance to meet someone new, I will be less offended at those who don't help me or show kindness and pray that God sends me just the right one, to show me His uniqueness and humor and give me a picture that life always brings us the unexpected. And who knows, the one who is helping me might need more help than I.