Sharing a Load
NOTE: I DON'T THINK THE ACT ITSELF IS AN 'RAK' STORY. IT WAS NO BIG DEAL AT ALL. IT WAS WHAT FOLLOWED THAT GOT ME THINKING....
We were waiting quite a while for our luggage at Baggage Claim 6. So were the passengers right next door, at carousel 5. On its way back inside after one 'rotation', a suitcase at #5 suddenly jammed right at the 'tunnel' exit. This caused the next suitcase to topple off.... which had a domino effect. Suitcases started falling off the conveyor belt while the jammed suitcase was about to bring the 'revolving' to a complete halt.
Why stand there 'waiting for staff to arrive' if we could prevent further disaster right now? I started putting the liftable suitcases back on the belt. I know how frustrating a prolonged wait for luggage is. I was enduring one myself. Another '#6' guy saw me and joined in. As did another. In less than 2-3 minutes all the luggage was back on track.
My first 'partner' actually applauded and said to me, 'Nice Job!.' A few others joined in the clapping. Surprised and well, rather embarrassed, I replied "Nice job yourself!" He responded, "Teamwork!"
The rest of the day I couldn't help smiling. No, not at the applause, G-d Forbid. (That is NOT me at all!) It was because I saw- once again- how Kindness is contagious!! Who knows why no one thought of doing such an easy favor. (I guess they're not implanted with the RAK sensor I've gotten from you, on top of my Bible education.) Maybe it's just today's 'We don't get involved' mentality.
But once the mission began, seeing others join in was, well... awesome. And restored my faith in mankind.