Stuck? Some things to think about...

I noticed him just as my car tires became trapped in the mix of compact snow and ice. He heard the twirling of my car tires, looked up at me and smiled. I was the exact reason he was out there in the middle of the road, at the T-junction of the main street and my one-way lane: he was shoveling snow and making it easier for people who traveled down this slush filled path to avoid outcomes like the one I now found myself in. No one asked him to do this noble task, no one expected him to either. It was simply one man's desire to keep others from being in the not-so-fun, sometimes traumatic situation known as "stuck".

As I jostled my car back and forth trying to set it free from its ice prison, I couldn't help but wonder what prompted him to get out there and spend his precious time clearing an area that was "no man's land", that part of the street that didn't belong to anyone nor was anyone's particular responsibility. What was he thinking? Why was he doing that? It seemed that answers such as, "He's a nice guy" or "He's German and that's what they do", weren't sufficient. Yet I couldn't think of a better answer myself and certainly wasn't about to go up and ask him, so I decided to let things be and just enjoy of the benefits of his efforts.

After liberating my car and running my errands, I came home and started shoveling my own little area of responsibility - my driveway. We both worked diligently with nothing but a few house distances between us; the only noise emanating around us came from the metal on our shovels as it scraped against the pavement, clear signs of success for our work. With each stack of snow I shoveled and piled elsewhere, the realization of what this man was doing finally dawned on me.

1. He was thinking beyond himself. I was content to shovel my driveway and then head inside. This guy, however, saw the larger picture and the needs of others, and decided to act. He probably finished his own drive and then asked himself, what else needs to be done? what else can I do? Then he was willing to go above and beyond his own responsibility and do it. What would the world look like if we all did the same? I think that so many times when we are stuck in our own dire situations we don't stop and take the time to think of others. The thing is, that's exactly when we need to stop focusing on ourselves and focus on others. There is no better time to think beyond ourselves then when we are stuck.
2. He understood we all need to help others avoid getting stuck. If you've ever been stuck, then you know how hard it is and how much more difficult it can be to get out. That is why it is so important that we help those who are going down similar paths. We know where the pitfalls are, what the signs look like, and how to best avoid them. We also know how to get out of that "stuck" situation. God never wastes a hurt and He will use our hurts so that "we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (2 Corinthians 1:4). Sometimes a simple word of encouragement or just letting someone know you've been down that same road so that they don't feel alone is all that is needed.
3. Whether he realized it or not, he was exemplifying the heart and character of Jesus. None of us really deserve to be free from our "stuck" positions in life, but because of Jesus' death on the cross we no longer have to be bogged down in our sinful nature. He paid the price so that when we are at the crossroads or on the verge of becoming stuck, we don't have to worry because a clear path has already been made for us.

I have no clue who this man was, where he lived, or why he felt led to help others. I just know he did. He may not know what a huge impact his efforts made, but I know that I am thankful for him. Each time I turn onto my street, I know that my chances of getting stuck there are less likely. And while the physical benefits are helpful as long as the snow and ice stay on the ground, the lessons he taught my heart will linger much longer.