Tag: Acts of Kindness

The Kindness of Strangers

Henri J.M. Nouwen’s prayer*, that I posted a few days ago, came to mind when I was cruising on the Pacific Ocean one afternoon. I had some free time and decided I wanted to get out on the water. I booked a coastal cruise. There was an additional fee to get on the upper deck, which I decided to pay… I did have a coupon so that covered the extra cost. I’m glad I chose that option. I was the only one up on the deck. There were twenty-six friends in the main enclosed deck below. They were having a good time. But I was blessed to be on top.

It was amazing to see the SEA and reflect on Nouwen’s prayer. The ocean is unfathomable and incomprehensible. When one is looking out over the vastness of the water, towards the horizon it seems never ending… as Henri compared it to the never ending love of God.

“O Lord, [you are the] sea of love and goodness” (*Nouwen’s prayer).

“Out of your love I came to life, by your love I am sustained, and to your love I am always called back.” (*Nouwen’s prayer).

I was feeling a little vulnerable from all that’s happening in life right now, so when many kindnesses were shown to me on this cruising adventure, I teared up. 

To begin with, the ticket taker was friendly and warm, and engaging (I was first in line). 

Boats moored outside the harbor.

I boarded the yacht and immediately went up to the upper deck. One cheery crew member came right up to greet me and hand me a menu. She came back a little while later to take my order, but I didn’t order anything.

A bit later, I was sitting on the top deck by myself, and the captain came out and started a conversation with me. He was interested in my story. He was so kind.

Again later, the cheery crew member came back to check on me. She wondered if the music was too loud (it was a bit – so she turned it down). Then she started to chat with me, and showed a genuine interest in me, that I found endearing.

That afternoon boat ride was a wonderful reminder of the power of kindness, and the sea was a beautiful reminder of God’s love.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Leo Buscaglia

“Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference for another today.”  Amy Leigh Mercree

A Change Along Scenic Drive

On our way to the north shore we always take the scenic drive instead of the expressway from Duluth to Two Harbors. It may be a slower route, but it is, as the name describes, a scenic route along Lake Superior. About half way between the two towns is a non-descript building that looks more like a house than a store. It was called Practicals, Collectibles & Antiques.  

The nondescript building for a store.

We’ve been stopping at this unique store for years. We enjoyed browsing around and visiting with the owner who was always there. He was friendly and welcoming and recognized us. We knew he was a retired military guy who wintered in Texas but would spend his summers in his shop right across the road from beautiful Lake Superior. 

A view of the lake.

The interior of the store was lined from floor to ceiling with thousands of used books and old vinyl record albums. Shelves outlined the perimeter of the store, which displayed antique dishes, collectibles and “practicals”. We always looked forward to stopping at this quaint shop. We would usually buy a couple of books at about $1-2 a piece.  

One year we apologized for only spending $2 but he graciously said…the north shore gets a million visitors a year…if each one spends a $1 that works for me…however, I run this store because it’s fun…not for the money. 

The For Sale sign for Practicals, Collectables, & Antiques.

This year at the turnoff we noticed the large hand-written “For Sale” sign in the yard. The building was locked and empty, and we were a bit sad. I guess we knew it was coming sooner or later but it was too soon for us. 

While at the cabin we searched for additional information about the store. We found a local TV news program had interviewed the owner in Spring 2018. We learned the owner’s name is Ed Johnson and that he was loved by many (we were not surprised). We learned he ran this store for 26 years and at the time of the interview he was 76 years old.

If you look closely, you can see an outhouse in the back. There was no running water in this building. The public restroom was an outhouse.

One other fond memory I have of “Mr. Ed” is from years ago, before we got to know him a bit. My mom and I would occasionally take weekend trips together and I remember bringing her to his shop once. She was using a walker at that time and she required some extra care. He always welcomed people into his store. This time, when my mom and I left the store, he came to the door to say good- bye, and then he said to me, “thanks for taking such good care of your mom.” I don’t think any other person in the world ever told me that and it really meant a lot to me and brings tears to my eyes this day.  A simple act of kindness.

“Cheers to Ed!” We trust he and his wife are enjoying their retirement. 

Our next stop was Gooseberry Falls.