By Steve Walker
In last week’s column I
wrote about a life long search looking for the missing ingredient needed to
determine success or failure. As it turned out, the answer that eluded me for
years boiled down to one word. That word happened to be “faith.”
I posed two questions. One
related to why some well thought out plans for the starting of a business or a
career change fell short of the mark and the other related to marketing
strategy for life’s financial or personal aspirations.
By the end of the column I
came to the revelation that I understood the missing ingredient. It is so
simple yet hard to come by for some of us.
Since my revelation last
week I was able to put my “faith” into play. Days after I wrote the column I
was headed into HEB to pick up a few things to eat. As I was grabbing a cart to
go in and buy snack food, I noticed a man near me was holding on to two bags
that he was trying to take out of his cart. The man had only one arm and was
struggling to hold on to the bags with his good arm. He was obviously not
faring too well as I approached him. Without thinking I asked him if he needed
assistance. At first he said “no thank you I think I have it,” but I realized
he did not have a good grip on the bags which he was about to lose any
moment.
Realizing he didn’t have
it under control, I immediately grabbed his bags which were now slipping out of
his good hand before he lost them. Once I had secured them for him he was able
to continue to make his way to his car. He thanked me profusely. It gave me a
warm feeling that I was able to assist someone in need even if it was only ensuring
he didn’t drop his groceries. I began to understand “faith” a little better as
being something that leads to success no matter how small or seemingly
insignificant.
Then today once again I
was in HEB shopping and noticed a woman in an electric cart maneuvering her way
down the aisle coming toward me from the opposite direction. She would stop and
stretch trying to get an item off a shelf that was somewhat out of her range.
Remembering my last
encounter, I approached her and asked her if I could assist her by grabbing the
needed item or items for her. She beamed and said, “thank you.” For the next 10
minutes or so we introduced ourselves and socialized and shared a great
conversation. We talked about Veteran’s Day coming up and I mentioned I served
in Viet Nam
As she went on about her
business I ran into her two more times in other food aisles. Again we visited.
Finally as I was about ready to check out, she said “before I forget, thank you
for your service.” She made my day as
well as I hoped I did for her. Apparently the answer is not only “faith” but an
extra helping of good deeds.
And as always, what I
write is “Just a Thought.”
Steve Walker is a Vietnam
Veteran and former Justice of the Peace and Journalist.
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