Look for good people and you’ll find them. Pray for your hope to be restored and someone comes along do that very thing for you. I relearned this the past month with people who came into my life, sometimes unexpectedly. I could have disregarded them—just another human being going and coming. Fortunately, I keep a daily journal. As I reflected on some of my brief encounters with good people, the gloom I felt about our ailing world lessened.
I looked out the window when dawn was waving goodbye to darkness, fresh cup of coffee, ready to sit down for prayer-time. In the apartments’ parking lot a bald-headed man got out of a black, rusted pickup. He carried his overweight body wearily as he made his way across the parking lot. I noticed EMT in large letters on his jacket. “Ah,” I thought, “he’s returning from his night job.” His presence reminded me of countless, service-oriented, self-giving healthcare professionals who work evenings so we can sleep without apprehension, knowing they will help us in a crisis. Yes, good people everywhere.
You may have noticed on my Facebook or Instagram page that I recently chatted via Zoom with a friend in Canada’s Northwest Territory. For decades, Maggie’s pastoral ministry has offered compassionate care to folks in her area, especially First Nations. Before we ended our conversation, Maggie commented, “Just think, you and I will both be looking at the same full moon tonight.” This brief quip lifted my heart, assuring that no bullying politician can take away our human kinship. Yes, good people everywhere.
Two weeks ago, I sat by the Des Moines river, soothed by her slow-moving rhythm that strengthens my peacefulness. I noticed an older man with a trimmed, white beard sitting a few hundred yards away. He seemed to be there for a similar reason as we each gazed at the activity of blue herons near a sandbar. An hour later, he stood and prepared to leave by folding his canvas chair,. He surprised me by coming over to tell me how he sighted a small heron termed a bittern, birds rarely seen and once thought to be extinct. As he drove away, I picked up my binoculars and, lo, there I spotted the marvelous bird he described. What gratitude I felt for his taking time to generously share the gift that gave him joy. Yes, good people everywhere.
Not long after that, one of the park’s caretakers stopped nearby to pick up trash littered alongside a picnic table. I thanked her for the distasteful work she was doing. Instead of ticking off descriptions of visitors’ thoughtless selfishness, the caretaker turned her attention to me and said, “Thank you for visiting here.” Yes, good people everywhere.
As if I needed anything more to assure me of humanity’s kindness and generosity, another came with a friend who’s an informal IT specialist, able to fix most any difficulty regarding the use of digital devices. In no time at all, David transferred data from my old to new computer. Once again, he kept me anxiety-free, reminding me I can call on him with stubborn IT problems when I’m unable to manage them. Yes, good people everywhere.
This month I hope you will deliberately notice the good people who show up and how they restore what has lost its shine.
Abundant peace,
Joyce Rupp
