I should share good news whenever I find it, and the fact that there are nice people willing to go out of their way to help a stranger is good news.

I was on my way to church Sunday when the car began to sound funny. I determined it wasn’t the engine so I thought maybe it was a tire. I pulled over at the first opportunity, still in my neighborhood, less than two miles from home.

I can’t even call it a flat tire. It was shredded. Half the sidewall was completely gone. So I pulled my spare tire (the temporary donut type) and jack out of the trunk. I remembered to loosen the lug nuts first, and I’m glad I did. They were VERY tight. If I had tried to loosen them while the car was elevated on the jack, I’m sure I would have knocked it off. I squeezed the jack under the car (not much clearance with no tire) and began to raise the car.

I was having a hard time because the jack was so low to the ground and it took many turns to get even a little movement. After two knee replacements, my knees don’t fold under me like they used to. So I decided I would call AAA. The first recording explained that they were understaffed (isn’t everyone?), and it would take a while to get someone to the phone. “Why don’t you try our website?”

So I’m on hold and trying to report my need on the website, but the website reporting system bogged down. In the meantime, a fellow approached on foot and said, “Do you need help?” I said, “Well, I’m on hold with AAA. The jack is working, but I can’t work it.” He got right down on his knees and started making progress with the jack. By the time AAA came on the phone, we were nearly finished so I canceled AAA.

I was parked next to a church, and he had parked in the church’s parking lot. He quipped, “I hope they don’t mind my parking there. If they say something, I’ll remind them of the story of the Good Samaritan.” He told me he lived right near where I was stopped, and he actually passed me twice. The first time, he thought, “He’s OK. He’s on the phone getting some help.” Then he had to go back home to get something he forgot, and when he passed me again he saw I was still on the phone. That’s when he decided to stop.

So I am grateful to Walt Moore, retired environmental impact engineer, now filling his time making and teaching pottery! My neighbor in every sense of the word.

“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10.36, 37, ESV)

P.S. I’m very thankful that if I have to have a blowout, it happened in the neighborhood at low speed, not out on the highway.