主播大秀

Yesterday I was working in the front garden, it was pretty late in the afternoon, when I was approached by a stranger.

He was a young man with a workmen's belt around his waist.

An Electrician from the mainland. He looked totally lost.

First he went to the Post Office, which was closed, then he looked all around him in despair.

Finally he spied me working in the garden and walked towards me.

"Hi there" he said,

"Do you know if there is any place I can use my cash card to get money"

Well, I told him the Post Office closed at 1 pm and perhaps he could try the Coll Hotel.

Had he a cheque book? No,
Had he a Visa/Debit Card, ... No.

He just had a cash card which allowed him to draw money out of a machine.

Why did he need the money I enquired.

Well, he was Hungry. He had been working on the Dr's Surgery all day, wasn't familiar with islands and he had no cash to buy his dinner.

He was catching the 7.30 pm boat back to Oban and had no money for food on the boat either.

Well, I felt sorry for this young man, so far from home, alone, and unused to island life.

I offered to lend him some money so that he could at least get a square meal.

But how will I repay you? he asked

Just send me the money back when you get to the mainland I said.

The young man looked at me in amazement.

"I'm a stranger" he said, "and you would do that for a complete stranger".

"Yes" I replied.

Now you may think that that was naeive and foolish of me.

But I look at it this way.

1. If the boy takes the money, he gets a square meal, he has been shown kindness by a stranger on a tiny island he has never visited before.
He will feel good about the island.

2. If the boy returns the money to me as promised, my investment in human nature has paid dividends.
He will feel good about his honesty and keeping his word
I will feel good because he kept his word.

3. One day, my son may be in the same situation, far from home, hungry and alone. Perhaps a stranger will show him the same kindness.

4. If the boy does not return the money, then I will feel sadness, but who will be the loser?

The boy who took the money and did not return it as promised
Will he feel bad about it? untrustworthy and unable to look me in the eye if we should meet again.

or will I be the loser?

Certainly, my purse will have a hole in it, my faith in human nature dented a wee bit, but still I have the knowledge and comfort of the act of kindness.

So, out of the two, I know who would be the biggest loser?

Don't you?


Have a great weekend all, and wrap up warm !!

xxxxxx