Compassion in His Eyes

It was a bitter cold evening in northern Virginia. The old man's beard was glazed by winter's frost while he waited for a ride across the river. The wait seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from the frigid north wind.

Anxiously, he watched as several horsemen rounded the bend. He let the first few pass by without trying to get their attention. Finally the last rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue.

He caught the rider's eye and said, "Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There isn't a passageway by foot."

Reining his horse, the rider replied, "Sure thing. Hop aboard." Seeing the old man was unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman dismounted and helped him onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination a few miles away.

As they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman inquired, "Sir, I noticed that you let several other riders pass by. Then I came, and right away you asked me for a ride. I'm curious why, on such a bitter winter's night, you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and left you there?"

The old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse,looked the rider straight in the eyes, and replied, "I've been around these parts for some time. I reckon I know people pretty good. I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no concern for my situation. But when I looked into your eyes, kindness and compassion were evident. I knew your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give some assistance in my time of need."

Those heartwarming comments touched the horseman deeply. "I'm most grateful for what you have said," he replied. "May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion."

With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and continued on his way home.

- Author Unknown

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"Could you spare a dollar today, Ma'am?" asked the old hobo with a beaming smile. I had watched him get off the train and walk down the road a quarter mile to our house. His name was Ted, and he knocked on our door almost every month. My mother always gave him the dollar. It was enough back then for a meal at the local cafe'. In return, Ted would give me a toy figurine he'd carved from a block of wood.

The engineer always waited, and made sure Ted had returned safely to his boxcar before moving on down the track. The trains would often stop for long periods to wait for oncoming trains to pass. You could find the engineers and hobos eating a noon meal together in the small town just over the hill. Gentle, homeless traveler

Today the trains don't often stop at the crossing up the road, and the boxcars contain only memories of Ted and his traveling comrades. These days, Ted would not be allowed to ride the big freight trains. He would find it difficult to obtain the price of a meal while traveling through the countryside. A priceless period of history has vanished.

Still, never a day goes by when there isn't a chance to spread good will in some small way. Thinking back to the "hobo days" brings a peaceful feeling. It reminds me that kindness and compassion grow from an inner place of calm where we can go when the edges of life grow rough.

Ted's wooden figurines remind me that abundance is a state of mind produced by good will and kindness. This deep place of peace has no physical boundaries.

Think back to a time that brings you feelings of good will and kindness.

Today we can access that deep place of strength, love and inner peace. We can become gentle travelers who spread feelings of joy and good will to others -- no matter how we travel or where we go.

Have a joyously fantastic day! :-)

Steve Brunkhorst

Copyright 2004 by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve coaches people to help them revitalize their inner spark, access their natural talents, and design strategies to reach their personal and career goals. Get Steve's motivational and inspirational mini-zine, Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, by visiting http://AcheiveEzine.com