LETER: Driver’s kindness a metaphor for what makes society better

To Ozaukee Press:

My sweet boy, yellow lab Oliver, and I walked to the post office the other day. I knew walking to the post office would be easier than the return because the cold, strong north wind at our back would be very unpleasant to face walking home.   

The cold wind was worse than I imagined on the return, and there was a steady stream of cars at the highway I had to cross. I felt a little panicky with the icy wind in my face and the rush of vehicles driving by.

And then there was a break in the traffic to my left, but I could not move fast enough to beat the cars coming from the right—until miraculously the lead driver of a long stream of cars stopped and waved me on to cross.

My heart leapt with gratitude. Oliver and I hurried across the road as I waved a sincere thank you to the kind driver.

The rest of the way home the kindness of that driver warmed and informed me. I thought how often it is we rush through life not seeing others who need a break, or we are just too busy to care. There are so many critical issues of social justice at stake in our world, our country and our local communities that beg us to stop and reflect on others’ needs.

Ultimately, we are better off when we are all better off. Martin Luther King said, “Life’s most urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?” What if we all braked for others more often?

Marcia Kaminski
Grafton