Friday morning on my way to work, I had just made a right turn on red when I heard the screech of tires and the awful sound of two vehicles colliding. Looking immediately into my rearview mirror, I watched as one truck spun around in the intersection while the other stopped cold in its tracks. When it was over, the two pickup trucks, similar in color, had come to a stop in the middle of a busy intersection bordered by a schoolyard.

I pulled off the road to my right and dialed 911. The operator transferred me to the city’s public safety dispatch, and I reported the incident, saying that there appeared to be no injuries (both drivers had gotten out of their vehicles) but that the accident was blocking traffic. The dispatcher assured me she would send officers immediately.

I turned around, parked in a safe place near the scene of the accident and yelled to one of the drivers that the police were on their way. Since it appeared that no one was injured and since another driver had gotten out to assist those involved, I drove on to work.

When I left my home Friday morning, my mind was on any number of things – work, the upcoming holidays, arranging for pet care, the economy, my weekend plans to complete a painting job, the special Christmas music to be sung Sunday morning – you name it, it was rambling around in the gray matter that occupies the space in my brain.

The one thing I did not have on my mind was a wreck. I can imagine that neither gentleman involved in what I partially witnessed had it on their minds either. But there it was. Screeeeeech! Bam! Crunch!

The unplanned had become a part of their lives, my life and the lives of all the other drivers who were delayed by the accident, forced to figure a way around it, and probably frustrated at the inconvenience of it all. All the thoughts that had been swirling around in my mind disappeared as soon as I heard the onset of events and I began to focus fully on what I could do to help out. In one way, it was a gut reaction on my part.

In another way, it became an intentional decision. As soon as I pulled over and realized that no one appeared to be injured, I thought briefly about going on to work, trusting that someone else would take care of details. Then I thought about my personal responsibility to other people, even strangers, and decided to follow through with notifying public safety, checking on the drivers and letting them know help was on the way.

Making that intentional decision made me late for work, but in my mind the well-being and safety of others became more important than whether I got to work on time. It reminded me of something I had written about previously – giving gifts of service to others.

We can arrange to perform acts of service to suit our schedules, and that’s okay. After Friday, I realize that we are routinely presented with opportunities to provide acts of service on an inconvenient basis. They usually present themselves at the least opportune time, interrupting the flow of our day or scheduled appointments. They challenge our absorption with personal agendas, calling us to put our needs aside for the needs of others.

Forgive the pun, but they tend to wreck our schedules or plans, requiring us to make intentional decisions as to whether to get involved or not. Beyond that, we are challenged to make instantaneous mental and practical adjustments if we choose to deliver unexpected gifts of service.

The Friday collision also reminded me that Christmas is not the only time we need to be thinking about giving gifts of service. Opportunities for such gifts present themselves on a regular basis. Will we listen to the screech, bam, crunch of their intrusion, or will we walk away?

The choice is ours.

Harris Murray, a freelance writer, can be reached at writeharris55@yahoo.com.

 

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