Yesterday didn’t start off so well. I woke up a little sad, a little remorseful and whole lot travel-sick. My body ached and chills ran down my spine, but after my vacation I needed to get back on the work grind. Luckily, I didn’t have to have any direct client contact; however, I did need to go buy some things from Home Depot. I was irritable, restless and discontent, but I pushed through my misery and went on my way.
By the time I arrived at Home Depot, my stomach was sour and I was sweating. I did not want to be anywhere, let alone the human jungle that is Home Depot. I grabbed a cart with a firm resolve to get in and get the f*** out of there. I headed straight to the paint section, and I recognized the man behind the counter from my innumerable visits to the Home Depot paint section. I asked for what I needed and ran down one of the aisles to pick up some other things. Within minutes I returned, only to realize that my cart was gone. I turned around and saw a seedy-looking man with an empty cart that looked suspiciously similar to the one I had. I asked him if the cart was mine and quickly muttered “no”. I looked him dead in the eyes, half-bewildered and blood-boiling. That was definitely my cart, but there was no way I could prove it. I had been gone long enough that I couldn’t be one hundred percent sure. The last thing I needed was to start some unnecessary shit in the paint section at Home Depot. I bit my lip, swallowed my pride and went back to the front of the store to get a new cart. I was furious.
Unbeknownst to me, the man behind the counter was watching this entire situation unfold. He took care of the seedy man and went to grab my paint, seemingly oblivious to the cart-thievery that had just taken place. He handed me my paint, and as I was loading it into the new cart he pointed to the rest of the things I was going to buy. “You see those?” he asked. “I’ve got better something for you.” He proceeded to reach under the counter and took out an entire paint kit that had some package damage but was in perfect condition. He said I could have it for half price if I wanted it, and with thinking I blurted out, “Absolutely!” My mood immediately shifted as I thanked him and carted my things away to the next aisle.
To my surprise, he didn’t stop there. Within minutes he found me and insisted on giving me a few more items to put in my paint kit, this time for free. I was awestruck. I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Home Depot, but things like this just simply never happen. All told, I got about forty dollars worth of materials for a whopping eight bucks. I asked the man his name, and with a big smile on his face he replied, “Rodney”. I thanked him from the bottom of my heart as he walked away, and I couldn’t help but think that random acts of kindness were business as usual for this blessed stranger.
At the end of the day, none of these events were all that extraordinary, but how it all unfolded struck a chord deep within me. At first I felt slighted and disrespected, ready go off on a stranger who most likely was having a worse day (and probably life) than I was. In the moment I took it personally, but as I look back now I know it had nothing to do with me. Selfishness, taking advantage of others, lying - these all come from places of pain. I could have caused a scene, but I didn’t. That was the key. I put down my sword and opted for the gentler path, and it was precisely because of that action that Rodney was able to work his magic.
Angels and demons exist, and they live among us and within us. They are constantly engaged in battle, even in places as inconspicuous as Home Depot. Those of us driven by pain lead the demons, and those of us driven by love lead the angels. Next time you feel slighted or taken advantage of, remember this: it has nothing to do with you. Let it go. Take the higher road. Find strength in the fact that wherever there are demons, there are sure to be angels waiting in the wings.
Thank you, Rodney, for being my angel today.