Are you couragous enough to act?

My eyes darted from the passing traffic to the signal, then to the crosswalk sign. The blind boy was clearly struggling to hear the signal beeping telling him it was safe for him to cross. 

“It’s okay to cross,” I said. Like he could hear me. I looked at him really hard trying to get him to hear me and read my mind “It’s okay to cross, but you have to hurry”. I hoped the signal would keep beeping until he had time to safely cross.

He swiped his walking stick out in front of him but stood still. 

I sat in my car biting the cuticle on the outer edge of my pinky finger, mind racing as my eyes scanned the traffic then back to the boy. 

Just moments before, I was cruising up at the northbound intersection of Rural and Southern making a mental checklist for the evening, feeling accomplished at all I’d gotten done for the day.

I’d carefully considered the quality of the cheese to serve and selecting the freshest fruit so that I not only keep my budget, but everyone attending the user group would have some tasty eats. 

I kept switching out the fruit containers to make sure I found the best one. Feeling proud of myself, I left the store and looked forward to the evening ahead.

Every now and then someone or something is put in our path to make a difference and we must choose to pull over, have the courage to act and do the right thing.

The traffic was moving fast as usual and I had a sinking feeling. I checked my mirrors and looked across all the lanes. 

“I’m in the opposite lane and can’t make it over safely”.

An eastbound car slowed and drove onto the shoulder and an older gentleman got out and rushed to the aid of the blind boy struggling to cross the street. He waited with him until it was safe to cross and got him to the other side. 

My eyes welled up with tears. 

I wanted to run up and hug them both. Thank you! Thank you!

The courage. That man had it. Do I? Would I?