Yeah, Me and the LDS

I think the Church of the Latter Day Saints used to run a TV commercial that I'm thinking of. A young woman helps an older lady to cross the street. The camera pans to a guy in a work truck noticing significantly. Cut To: The guy from the truck helping a woman who has dropped her groceries. The camera pans to a man noticing significantly. Cut To: The second man helping someone who . . . You get the idea. And you've probably saw the commercial or one like it. I think it was the Mormons. Regardless, it was some church organization suggesting that we ought to be nice to each other; help each other; care about each other.

Many people think that Buddhism is simply "living in the moment." That is almost it but it's really just doing the right thing at this very moment. Knowing yourself well enough, dropping your trivial likes and dislikes, getting to the heart of you. Then making good choices. However, since we are all one, doing the right thing for you at this very moment is, actually, doing the right thing for the universe at this very moment. This is where I find myself agreeing with the LDS or whomever aired the ad.

It wouldn't be that hard to be a little nicer to people. Maybe its the election cycle, but I think we've lost our way. People are just being nasty. We've lost our sense of community and our honor. We need to care about and care for each other.

I pulled into a truckstop one night. I was standing in line at the fuel desk to get a shower, the girl behind the counter was Generation "Why Me." She had the thingy in her nose, and a tat on the inside of her wrist. She was having trouble and bristled with attitude. Come to find out, they had just updated the store computer and many of the items weren't in the system yet. One driver gave up when a case of bottled water just wouldn't ring up. He actually put it back on the shelf. The managers were gone, the girl was alone in the store. It wasn't all generational. She wasn't getting the support she needed. I felt her pain

The showers are being remodeled as well. All of us drivers were having to go out to a trailer in the parking lot to clean up. Not everybody was happy about that. Some drivers were letting the poor girl know their displeasure. All of us were standing around in the store with nothing to do but watch her work while we waited. She was feeling the mood in the room; it wasn't helping hers. My turn for a shower finally came and I had a great idea on the way back in.

It really is more work to be a complainer. And, it comes back on you eventually when you don't help others. It is so simple to be cheerful and helpful. And it really isn't that much extra work. Like Willie Nelson sang "It's the little things that mean a lot."

Let me tell you about an Ol' Trucker Trick I know, to show you how easy it is.

Back in the store, the poor girl was snarling in frustration. She might have had an attitude, but that night, she deserved to. I'm sure she didn't get paid nearly enough to deal with a bunch of cantankerous truckers who have to shower out in the parking lot, and can't even buy water. When a couple guys walk by with duffel bags, not believing that the showers are outside, I told them it was the hose around the corner.

Back to my fuel desk girl. She was sighing and frowning because some older trucker had brought his wife who also needed a shower. As the only woman in line, now they had to reconnoiter the trailer and the shower schedule to get her one.

"Man, I need some chocolate. What do you recommend?" I asked her.

She paused, almost not understanding, but recovered to suggest a Take Five bar.

"What are they like?" faking I've never had one.

"Oh, it's peanuts and caramel and a pretzel or something crunchy like that." She was just glad to empty her mind of the store issues. Then she gushed: "I really like them."

Bingo, I had her right where I wanted her.

"Back in the middle aisle," she shouted as I wandered toward the junk food.

I grabbed two King Size Take Five bars and headed back up front. There were five people, counting the old couple, hanging around waiting for showers. The unease hung round the place like stale cigarettes. I dropped the bars on the counter and shuffled through my wallet.

"Two Ninety Eight."

I handed her three dollars and then pushed one of the bars across the counter. "This one's for you. Maybe your night will get better."

"Oh, WOW!" She smiled wide and chuckled. "Thanks!" It was like a whole different person showed up. Now that's magic. And I didn't have to saw anyone in half.

As I walked out the door, I heard my two pennies drop in the "Need a Penny?" dish. The trucker's wife practically misty-eyed, smiled sheepishly at me as I passed. Just as I pushed the door open, I heard the rustle of a Take Five wrapper.


Try it you'll like it. The candy bar's not bad either.