Simple Acts of Grace

It takes a lot to impress my husband. His analytical tendencies and natural skepticism mean that one’s powers of conviction are much more important than powers of persuasion in winning his attention, let alone his endorsement. One simple act on the part of Michelle Obama won him, at least for a day.

The Obama’s invited a few hundred people to their first Open Day at the White House. Apparently, some who arrived and were waiting outside in the cold were there just in the hopes they might get in. They had not won tickets through the official presidential inauguration committee lottery; they weren’t among the volunteers being honored nor were they special guests. They just waited for hours at the East Gate. And, as you might expect, they were told by a guard that they couldn’t come in. But that, as Paul Harvey would say, is not the end of the story. Here’s the news account from the Washington Post…

The guard went away. He came back. He told Peebles and Reid and dozens of other peole they would be allowed to come in.

“He told us Michelle Obama looked out the window and saw people waiting and told them to let the people in,” said Peebles.

Let them come in!

No one would have thought less of her if she hadn’t invited them inside. It is, after all The White House. We are, as far as I know, still living under the glow of an level orange threat of terroism. And, she had walked and danced her way through nearly 20 hours the previous day in high heels. (That is how I might have justified my own self absorption if I had been in her shoes…so to speak!) We would have all understood if she wanted to shake fewer hands and give her smile muscles a rest. But she didn’t. She extended herself because she saw a need among a group of cold, uninvited strangers. Greg Meredith was impressed.

In stark contrast is the impression made recently in a situation where the need seemed even more obvious and the consequences of assistance far less complicated.

Last week, Greg and I watched as media members pressed around a U.S. Airways Flight 1549 passenger giving an interview after he had survived the harrowing crash landing in the river. The man, who was was drenched to the knees in water from the Hudson,  had no coat. His buffer from the frigid New York winter was a golf hat. The reporters, all bundled in tundra-ready outwear surely were astute enough to notice this. Their response was to elbow in for a closer shot and to shout more questions at the man. Greg said to our tv, “Somebody get the guy a coat!” They were more interested in getting a story.

We all have days like that…when we rush past obvious needs…bent on fulfilling our own objectives. Some of the time, we’re so focused, we simply don’t notice. We don’t take time to cast a glance out our windows, much less to think about the condition of anyone we might see in passing. And there are other times. Times when we risk a bit more. We slow down and we reach out.

I know that you are all hearing the same call to action I am from our new President. I know you must be intrigued by Starbucks offer of free coffee to reward community service. Maybe you’ve even stepped up your efforts for volunteerism. I think it’s all the beginning of something great for our country. But I’m more hopeful thanks to the things that may seem less significant. Small acts of goodness that occur outside a schedule or organized do-good event. I’m more impressed by someone who looks out, and lifts up simply because they can.

Your vantage may not be the windows of the White House, but the effect you can have can be just as great. Lift up a stranger today. With your words, your expression…maybe even the coat off your back. It takes so little time, but the smallest gestures do make the biggest difference.

And what about you? Has someone offered you a hand when you needed it most? What little gestures have made the biggest difference in your life? Do you have a lesson or a story to share? Or maybe you need help right now in this moment. Can you share your burden? Let’s create some community at the Bloomin’ Blog my friends!

Share and serve…share and serve…goodness grows!

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