There is this story most of us grew up with – the parable of the good Samaritan. The guy who went out of his way to help a destitute stranger, someone who couldn’t repay or ever thank him adequately. Well I met him, on a hot day in Mississippi. June 30th, to be precise.
My children and I were on a road trip to Atlanta, driving somewhere in Mississippi, with my husband hours away in Houston. Somewhere, somehow my exceptional sense of direction and unique ability to estimate distance left us with only 9 miles before we ran out of gas. We were on the freeway with the closest gas station 16 miles away. We were in a bit of a dilemma.
I took the first exit, which as our luck would have it, was a truck stop. For a second, I saw our lives flashing before us. I had no alternative, I had to get out of the vehicle and approach the nearest truck. I said a little prayer and ran towards the truck. A very pleasant driver assisted as best as he could, leaving me with directions to the gas station 16 miles away. By this time, I was feeling a bit uneasy. I went back to the car – prayed, smiled, and acted fully in control. “Don’t worry kids, let’s pray and trust that God will provide”. We prayed, I got out of the vehicle again whispering, “Lord, please send someone who can help”. As I said it a car passed, the driver caught my eye… and he stopped!! I ran to the vehicle from which a US Navy Officer emerged. The words “Are you ok Mam?” never sounded so comforting before.
To make a long story short, the officer confirmed that the nearest gas station was 16 miles away. Then he asked if we had a gas can – which we obviously did not have.
This wonderful officer overwhelmed us with kindness, he went out of his way (literally) to help us. He had to drive back in the direction he came from and escorted us to what he called base camp: NASA Stennis space station. There, he tried to get me signed in. Luck was not on our side; the system went down and there was no way I could enter the premises. Our knight in shining uniform walked me back to the car -where two overheated, tired and in desperate need of restrooms - kids were waiting. He offered to enter base camp, buy a gas can, fill it up and bring it back to us. By now, he had sacrificed more than an hour of his time, had to stand in the scorching sun, chaperon us, attempt to get us to the gas station on camp, and was on his way to buy gas. All of this, to help a family he did not know, did not have to help, or didn’t need to further assist after the first attempt failed.
In all the chaos and confusion, I did not get his name. I know he drives a blue Tesla and I know he served sacrificially. I know he saved us that day. I know he did it without wanting or needing anything in return. And I know he is the kind of man I would want my son to grow up to be.
Please help me find him. Let the world know that good men exist. That good Samaritans still walk the earth. That random acts of kindness may mean more than you realize. That human beings are inherently good. That this world is a better place because of people like him.