Settling into the back seat, I noticed that the driver felt lonely and pretty depressed.

Mother Teresa’s story flashed into my mind. She was being interviewed by Pat McMahon in Phoenix. Elated that he was in the presence of Mother Teresa, he repeatedly asked her what he could do for her. After multiple attempts, this 80 pound 4’10” woman tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Patrick, if you really want to do something for me, get up at 4:00 tomorrow morning. Go out on the streets of Phoenix and find someone who is lonely. Make them feel that they’re not alone—that they do count.”

Employing the essence of her story, I started talking with the cab driver. His story was painful to hear.   He was driving a converted police car twelve hours a day for six days a week. He shared the cab with another guy who drove it the other twelve hours. Each Monday morning they paid the cab owner $600 for the use of the car. He went on to recount his journey from Ethiopia to the United States seven years ago and he shared some of his life experiences.

As I left the cab he smiled and it seemed that his shoulders were a little straighter. We shook hands and went our separate ways.

We never know what burden the person next to us is carrying. As Dr. Wayne Dyer says, “The peace that you want for yourself, want it more for someone else.”

The message that rings loud in my head is give, give, give!  A small gesture can go a long way to helping the brother or sister beside you.

Do you feel that power, that mindset? Whew! It gives me chills …

With an Attitude of Giving,

Dar