Early Sunday morning on January 13, 2019, a snowstorm hit Kansas City. Several cars ended up in the ditch because of the icy conditions. Fortunately for Dave Cochran, he was not one of those that wiped out.
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Not only did Dave not end up in the ditch during the treacherous weather, but he helped a couple of people by hooking up a chain and pulling people out of the snow with his 20-year old Suburban.
This wasn’t just any vehicle, though. This was also his home. You see Dave’s life has been a mix of poor choices and some unfortunate situations.
However, he didn’t let that stop him from helping others that day.
One of the people he helped was Jeff Allen.
Jeff Allen was on his way to work early that Sunday morning. Predictably, he would soon join many other cars stuck on the side of the road. It looked like Jeff Allen wouldn’t be making it to work that day, until Dave Cochran came along.
Dave came upon Jeff’s car and helped him get back on the road just as he’d expect anyone to do for him if the roles were reversed.
Jeff got back on the road and made it to work on time and then proceeded to help his Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Indianapolis Colts to advance to the AFC Championship game.
You see, Dave didn’t know that Jeff was a professional athlete.
Dave didn’t thumb his nose, laugh, and drive by the BMW stuck in the snow. Dave also didn’t see the color of the person’s skin, get back in his car, and drive off.
Though he had been down on his luck for many years, he didn’t expect to get anything out of it. He was just doing what needed to be done. He was a good samaritan … a snow samaritan, if you will.
Jeff Allen took to social media after the game soliciting help from the Kansas City community in tracking down this good Samaritan. Eventually, he found out who it was and rewarded Jeff with tickets to the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots. Many other community members stepped up and did kind things for Dave, as well.
When we scroll through social media and turn on the news, we may be overwhelmed with negativity sometimes. However, there is still plenty of good going on. The world is still full of people doing great things.
Gandhi used to say, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Just because other people are negative doesn’t mean you have to be. We should be kind to others, not because we get rewarded or because the other person is kind, but because we are.
Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream that people would be judged by the content of their character. Rich or poor. Black or white. Republican or Democrat. Young or old. Female or male.
It doesn’t matter the label or category. Every day you have the opportunity to show the world what kind of character you possess.
The world isn’t perfect, nor will it ever be. We can’t help everyone, but we can help someone. We can’t do everything, but we can do something.
How is your character? Do you throw up your hands and say that it’s hopeless? Do you return wrong for wrong? Do you only treat people kindly if they are kind to you first?
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “It is always the right time to do what it is right.”
Using the inspiration of a man living out of his vehicle, will you be the reason that someone believes in the good of humankind, today? He was a good Samaritan, not for financial gain, but because it was the right thing to do.