Commentary By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



I recently had an experience that left me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Over the weekend, I decided to raise my family’s truck from its death-like slumber.

Up until Saturday, the truck had a bevy of problems, two of which included two completely bald front tires and a dead battery.

Often times, a dead battery can be jump-started with the use of another vehicle and jumper cables. It took two different vehicles to jump-start the truck battery. After letting the truck idle for an eternity, I decided to take it for a spin.

Unfortunately, the truck showed its defiance to this plan by dying at a busy intersection about a half-mile from my house.

Fortunately, help arrived in the form of two guys who must have had nothing better to do than to help a stranded motorist.

They worked quickly and had my jumper cables hooked up to their vehicle in seconds. They laughed at the sight of the truck, covered in mildew and about three-years’ worth of dirt buildup. “Did you just buy this truck or something?” they asked. My first response was going to be, “Do I look like an idiot?” To which, they probably would have replied, “Why yes. Yes you do.”

Either way, their assistance got my truck sputtering once more and everything turned out for the best. I felt bad because I didn’t have anything to offer them but the remains of what was left in my cigarette pack. However, they didn’t seek payment. They probably preferred to re-tell the story to family and friends how they helped the idiot jump off a battery at one of the busiest intersections in Birmingham.

Most Americans show a flagrant disregard for most people we don’t know who are in need. I’m not out to throw stones, because I’m sure I’ve certainly done the same.

We’re afraid of getting taken advantage of by someone else, and that’s a shame. Many claim to live by Jesus’ example, but most forget what Jesus would do in certain situations.

It seems like an insignificant moment to be helped by a complete stranger, but it certainly left an indelible mark on me because it was unexpected. One of these days I’ll pay it back or pay it forward (terrible movie) and hopefully have the opportunity to help someone in the same situation. That is what we’re supposed to do, right?