My Brother's Keeper

I had an unexpectedly beautiful experience last week :)

I was running late on a Friday morning and speed-walking through the subway station. As I approached the top of the escalator, I noticed the guy in front of me had a blind stick. He was a rather tall and large man, middle-aged, with a heavy coat. He tapped the stick in front of him until he felt the moving steps and got on. I felt the need to slow down and stay behind him, in case he fell or needed help. But I also felt restrained from reaching out to him unless he really needed help, because I know people with disabilities like to maintain a sense of independence, self-sufficiency, and dignity.

When we reached the bottom of the escalator and stepped onto the platform, I watched intently as he tapped his blind stick until he felt the bumpy tiles along the edge of the platform. I'm sure he's ridden the subway many times before on his own but I was still anxious that he may accidentally fall onto the tracks. I stayed a few yards away from him instead of going to my usual spot further down the platform. I felt God endow me with a measure of His love for this man, and I thought, "I am my brother's keeper" (Genesis 4:9).

A train approached (not mine), and I wondered how he would know it was his train or how he would find the door and get on in time. The train came to a stop but the driver didn't announce the destination as usual, and he obviously couldn't see it on the train's electronic display. The doors opened and he frantically asked, "What train is this?" to anyone who would hear him. A few people passed him and entered the train.

I said, "It's the yellow line". He didn't respond but started tapping his stick to find a door. The floor lights started blinking, signaling the train was about to leave. I knew he wouldn't get there in time on his own, so I grabbed him by the arm and said, "The door's over here" as I quickly guided him towards the door and practically shoved him onto train just before the door closed.

I'm sure he verified with some of the people on board that he was on his intended train. I watched him calm down and grab hold of one of the rails as the train sped away. I uttered a silent prayer that he would make his way to his destination safely and in time, that he would continue to be self-sufficient and be treated with respect.

I was SO HAPPY and immediately posted on Facebook that it was only 7:53am but I had already had my best moment of the day, with the aim of inspiring others to recognize and take advantage of small service opportunities (because most of us miss them too often).

I marveled at the profound impact this small experience had on me. I felt immensely closer to God as I felt His love for this blind man expressed through me. I felt love towards this stranger I had helped onto a train. I felt the intense love God and Jesus Christ have for EACH of us, and their intimate care and concern for our lives.

Matthew 25:40 kept coming to mind:

"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

My testimony of this verse was fortified that day, and continues to be confirmed each time I notice and act on an opportunity to serve one of God's children. I know charity, the pure love of Christ, is a divine gift that allows us to love others more than we have a natural capacity to do. (Moroni 7:45-48)

As church leaders regularly remind us - and as our beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson tirelessly exemplifies - there is no greater joy than knowing that we have been instruments in God's hands.

("You Are My Hands", Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April 2010 General Conference)