It
was in the low thirties on a cold Saturday, November 11, 2017 morning in Gahanna, OH.
It was around 7:30am, and I was bundled up for my exercise. I was a half an
hour into my two-mile walk in my neighborhood.
To my right, I saw tall men with a short brown hair and a gray jogging
suit get out of a black van in the driveway of a home that I assumed was his.
Shortly
after this man disappeared into a home I’d seen many times on my walks, I heard
indistinguishable, loud, angry screaming, male voice (from my place on the
sidewalk) that gave me the mental image of some cowering, defenseless female
being verbally and physically abused by this guy.
I
passed the home once as I tried to convince myself to mind my own business. I
couldn’t do. I didn’t want to see a murder on the news later that night (from
this house). I got the house number, gave the police the details of the
situation (on my cell phone), and continued my walk. Just a little further down
my path, I noticed the police speeding to the location I’d reported with all
the squad lights blazing.
I
called the police later that morning to see what had happen with my call. With
a bit of a chuckle the police woman that answered filled me in on my drama. It
turned out the situation had not been as bad as I anticipated. The man inside
the home had been psyching himself up for a hockey game verbally he’d be
attending later that day. The police department said they always preferred
being overly cautious that having to deal with a tragedy.
I
learned two important lessons. When I’m screaming at my wonderful wife in the
midst of an argument, how far outside is my voice carrying. It is always the
right thing to do to help someone that you perceive is in danger (no matter the
situation). Here some ways to become more of the selfless kind of person you’ve
always wanted to become:
1.
Be courteous
in traffic
2. Be friendly and helpful
3. Be the change
4. Don’t control others
5. Listen to others
6.
Notice how
your actions makes you feel
7.
Overcome
prejudice
8. Practice understanding and compassion
9.
Rise above
retaliation
10.
Say a prayer
to heal yourself and others
11.
Stop
criticism
12.
Treat others
fairly
"God
teaches us to love by putting some unlovely people around us." (Rick Warren)[i]
[i] Adapted from: “18 Practical Tips for Living the Golden Rule” by Leo Babauta
No comments:
Post a Comment