"Where is your coat, young lady?"
He looked to be about 60 years old and was sitting on a bench outside of the testing center. I was walking there from the JSB to grab a vending machine snack halfway through Religion 351.
"You know, I brought one but it looked nice outside so I left it in the car. It's much colder than it looks!"
"That it is!"
"I know. I think just because I'm from Colorado I can handle these things, but I really can't!"
The girl sitting next to him chimed in, "Well I'm from Canada, and trust me--this is cold!" She looked to be about 25--a granddaughter? Student? Was he a professor?
"Here," he said. "I'm wearing a vest under this coat. Take it!"
"Oh no, sir, I'm okay, really. I'm just popping into the testing center to grab a snack."
"No no no no, I insist!"
He then proceeded to take off his coat, turn me around and then fed my arms through the sleeves. Just like they did in the olden days! It was a thick, cozy, fleece-lined jacket from Zergatt Resort in Midway, UT. It's a really fancy-schmancy place, in case you haven't heard about it. A coat from their gift shop would probably cost at least $50.
"There! Much better, isn't it?"
I was laughing. So was the girl sitting next time him. Was he serious? His actions were so completely unexpected, so entirely out-of-the-ordinary that we just couldn't help it.
"Yes sir, thank you very much! It's quite toasty! I'll enjoy it for the next forty steps to the testing center!"
"Well you're welcome! Christmas has come early for you!"
I smiled all the rest of the way to the testing center and bought some carrot sticks and a FiberOne bar. I took off the jacket as I walked out the door, fully expecting to return it the kind stranger.
But the bench was empty.
The process of getting my snacks from the vending machine had taken me less than a minute, and he was gone. Could old men walk that fast? Was he hiding somewhere? My eyes scanned every inch and corner of the quad, but to no avail.
I couldn't believe it! A complete stranger has literally given me the shirt (er, coat) off his back. I didn't know if the warm fuzzies I was getting were from the fleece lining or from the mere thought that someone would actually do that.
I plan on keeping this coat forever. To me, it's a symbol of the goodness in others and represents what Christmas is all about--Christ. Christ was the ultimate example of goodness and charity. He always gave willingly to the needy, and that's what this stranger did for me.
In a world where politicians accept bribes to fill senate seats, where governors hire call-girls and presidents cheat on their wives, it's nice to know that true goodness still exists. It's out there. You can choose to either be a part of it, or to pretend that it's not there and focus on yourself. One of these options is easy. The other isn't.
So to the man who gave me the coat that I am currently wearing: thank you (even though I highly doubt you will ever read this). Although it pains me that I have no method by which to personally thank you, perhaps the best way I could express my gratitude would be to pay it forward and bless the life of another.
Merry Christmas everybody.
He looked to be about 60 years old and was sitting on a bench outside of the testing center. I was walking there from the JSB to grab a vending machine snack halfway through Religion 351.
"You know, I brought one but it looked nice outside so I left it in the car. It's much colder than it looks!"
"That it is!"
"I know. I think just because I'm from Colorado I can handle these things, but I really can't!"
The girl sitting next to him chimed in, "Well I'm from Canada, and trust me--this is cold!" She looked to be about 25--a granddaughter? Student? Was he a professor?
"Here," he said. "I'm wearing a vest under this coat. Take it!"
"Oh no, sir, I'm okay, really. I'm just popping into the testing center to grab a snack."
"No no no no, I insist!"
He then proceeded to take off his coat, turn me around and then fed my arms through the sleeves. Just like they did in the olden days! It was a thick, cozy, fleece-lined jacket from Zergatt Resort in Midway, UT. It's a really fancy-schmancy place, in case you haven't heard about it. A coat from their gift shop would probably cost at least $50.
"There! Much better, isn't it?"
I was laughing. So was the girl sitting next time him. Was he serious? His actions were so completely unexpected, so entirely out-of-the-ordinary that we just couldn't help it.
"Yes sir, thank you very much! It's quite toasty! I'll enjoy it for the next forty steps to the testing center!"
"Well you're welcome! Christmas has come early for you!"
I smiled all the rest of the way to the testing center and bought some carrot sticks and a FiberOne bar. I took off the jacket as I walked out the door, fully expecting to return it the kind stranger.
But the bench was empty.
The process of getting my snacks from the vending machine had taken me less than a minute, and he was gone. Could old men walk that fast? Was he hiding somewhere? My eyes scanned every inch and corner of the quad, but to no avail.
I couldn't believe it! A complete stranger has literally given me the shirt (er, coat) off his back. I didn't know if the warm fuzzies I was getting were from the fleece lining or from the mere thought that someone would actually do that.
I plan on keeping this coat forever. To me, it's a symbol of the goodness in others and represents what Christmas is all about--Christ. Christ was the ultimate example of goodness and charity. He always gave willingly to the needy, and that's what this stranger did for me.
In a world where politicians accept bribes to fill senate seats, where governors hire call-girls and presidents cheat on their wives, it's nice to know that true goodness still exists. It's out there. You can choose to either be a part of it, or to pretend that it's not there and focus on yourself. One of these options is easy. The other isn't.
So to the man who gave me the coat that I am currently wearing: thank you (even though I highly doubt you will ever read this). Although it pains me that I have no method by which to personally thank you, perhaps the best way I could express my gratitude would be to pay it forward and bless the life of another.
Merry Christmas everybody.
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