A Little Bit of Gas

I was thinking this weekend of a story, or really two that fit together really well, that happened to me years ago, and that in some ways could be a metaphor for how we should live in relation to one another in this world.  At the risk of the inevitable giggles from the title overpowering a moving story, I give you, "A Little Bit of Gas."

Years ago, when I was in the life insurance industry, I had hit a very slow point in my sales.  I still needed to put gas in my car, but I still had some time before pay day, and the gas was needed right then and there.  At the gas station, I was counting out change to try to get enough together for at least a half tank.  A gentleman (in the truest sense of the word) had stopped in to get a paper and a snack as well as some gas for himself, when he saw me counting coins.  "Getting change together for gas?  I've been there myself," he said with true understanding in his voice.  He put down money, I had thought just to pay for his stuff, and left without saying much more.  I was too caught up in how low I was feeling emotionally and financially to notice the money he left included a few dollars for me to be able to get a little more.  When the guy behind the counter pointed that out, I felt ashamed that in feeling sorry for myself, I had missed the good deed the man had done and hadn't thanked him.  As I pumped my gas, I felt reassured things would get better, but still felt a horrible guilt for not acknowledging a good deed done to me.  I promised if I ever ran across someone in the same situation, I would do the same.

Fast forward a few years, with me married and living in New Jersey.  I had just dropped my stepdaughter off at work, and pulling out of the parking lot I saw a car right by the exit stopped with its hazard lights on.  I asked the driver if he was okay.  He said yes, but that he had run out of gas before he was able to make it to the nearest station.  I told him I lived right nearby, and that I had a gas can at home and could go get him some.  I rushed in the door and told Judy I needed to grab the gas can to go keep a promise and gave her the Reader's Digest version of the Cliff Notes of the story.  She smiled in that understanding way I've seen so many times.

I knew there was a gas station in the Watchung circle, so I headed there and filled up the can.  After heading back and seeing the man was still there, I gave him the can, as he seemed to know more about handling the newfangled spouts (and I hear they've gotten even worse) than I did.  After the can was empty, he gave it back and thanked me and was about to offer me money for it.  I shared with him that when I was out of gas, someone helped me out, and I was now doing the same thing, but if he felt the need to do something for me he could remember me in his prayers that night.  I also urged him, if he ever found someone in the same situation, to do the same thing.

Sometimes in life we feel like our tank is empty, and we don't know how we're ever going to fill it up again, or even get just that little bit to keep on going.  Sometimes in that situation, the slightest kind gesture by another person - a talk, a shoulder to cry on, a hug, or sometimes a literal couple gallons of gas - can fuel us and give us that little bit we need to go the extra mile and at least get where we need to go to fill the tank.  When I helped that man, I wasn't the gas station itself, but I brought a little of that gas to him to get to the pump.  In the same way, while we're not God, the little things we do can bring a little bit of God's infinite love to others, just enough to keep them going on the journey to Him.  So the next time you see someone who appears to be running on empty, remember to put a little gas in your neighbor's tank.