A winter storm yesterday left eight inches of snow.  Rain falls on the just and the unjust — snow lands indiscriminately as well.  If only we could train snow to accumulate everywhere but roads, driveways and sidewalks. 

An old snowblower, a gift from my father-in-law, sits unused in our garage.  Every year we pledge to have it repaired in the summer, but snow never comes to mind much in July.  So it remains tucked in a corner, leaving only snow shovels for use in December.  Fortunately with a one car garage, our drive is half the usual size. 

Around noon, after the storm subsided, I was shoveling down the drive toward the street.  I worked slowly, mindful of how many men have heart attacks at this task.  But then a couple came over from across the street and began digging out the bottom of my drive where the snow is heaviest.  A few minutes later their sons came out too and finished the job before leaving to help dig out others along our street.  I thanked them and finished our short section of sidewalk, as well as the walkway up to our front door. 

When I went inside and told my wife about these helpers, she said, “We need to give them a plate of fudge for Christmas.”

Luke the Evangelist made the word Samaritan a synonym for a ‘doer of good deeds.’  I was glad for the wandering Samaritans who helped me dig out after the storm.  Receiving the good is different than doing the good, as one side of a math equation differs from the other, but the good is there nonetheless.  The philosopher Simone Weil said that when we help someone in need, our compassion mingles with their gratitude to indicate a place where the hidden God is present. 

I was on the side with gratitude yesterday — grateful for the unbidden helpers who brought their shovels and the presence of God to my driveway.