Archive for August, 2011
Here is a quick anecdote that shows one of the benefits of being honest. This happened to me and a friend while we were volunteering in Jerusalem Israel.
My friend Noah and I stood in line at one of the best breakfast cafés in downtown Jerusalem called Holy Bagel. Known for amazing cappuccinos and out of this world Bagels smeared with tasty cream cheese, Holy Bagel always attracts a busy morning crowd as lines of customers rush toward the counter ordering their Bagels. Noah and I waited in line and finally got to the cashier just as the morning crowd began winding down. Once we ordered our cappuccinos and bagels and paid the cashier, we grabbed a seat and began enjoying the best bagel that I’ve ever tasted.
As Noah pulled his warm cinnamon bagel from its brown paper sack he glanced at his receipt calculating how much of our daily budget remained. He suddenly froze and focused more intently at the receipt. Then he rummaged through his pocket counting how many shekels (Israeli currency) he had. After counting his shekels and referencing his receipt again he looked at me and said, “Can you watch my food? I’ll be right back.”
Apparently the cashier was so busy with the morning rush of customers he accidently undercharged my friend Noah for his breakfast. Noah still owed about 10 shekels! So Noah got up from our table and waited in line again so he could pay the remaining money that went unnoticed. The cashier’s facial expression looked like a deer caught in the headlights as Noah handed him the money and explained what happened. Noah made his way back to our table and finished his still warm breakfast like nothing ever happened. So moved by my friend’s honesty, the cashier came to our table once the crowd of customers was gone and commended us both for being honest people. He chatted with us for a few minutes and before you knew it, Noah and I had made another friend at the Holy Bagel! This absolutely made our day, and we always made it a point to stop by and order another quick café breakfast when we were in the area. I learned that day that showing honesty is a great way to meet to new friends.
August 15th, 2011
On March 11th 2011, the worst tsunami in recent Japanese history slammed into the eastern coastal communities devastating thousands of homes and businesses in its path. Though this tsunami destroyed Japanese communities, there is one thing it didn’t destroy: honesty.
Photograph by David Guttenfelder, EPA
In a story written by Akiko Fujita on the ABC International site, rescue workers, police authorities, and regular citizens in Japan are reported to have returned approximately $78 million in cash and other valuables to their rightful owners. Since March 11th, people have turned in thousands of wallets that were scattered throughout the debris, containing $48 million in cash as well as identification cards and other valuables. The Tokyo Times reported more than 5,700 safes carried away by the tsunami have been returned to the police. Volunteers and rescues workers hauled these safes, some containing the equivalent of $1 Million, to police stations. Authorities with the Japanese National Police Agency reported the combined value of belongs from these safes that has been returned to their owners is at $30 Million.
Identifying the owner of the safe turned out relatively easy since most safes had official documentation such as land rights documents and bankbooks that contain names and addresses. However locating the missing owners proved the more daunting task. Koetsu Saiki explained, “The fact that these safes were washed away, meant the homes were washed away too. We had to first determine if the owners were alive, then find where they had evacuated to.” Searching for names in evacuation centers, missing person listings, digging through change of address forms, and even calling town halls and asking for the owner by name are the main methods the police are using.
Many people in the Miyagi prefecture were employed by fisheries along the coast and these companies prefer the paying workers in cash transactions, which explains why stashing cash a common method among fishing communities. Other valuables such as gold bars and momentous family heirlooms were also found inside these safes. They have been using garages and spare office rooms piled high with safes waiting to meet their owners again. Although, the number of recovered valuables declines every passing month, more and more police departments continue receiving wallets, safes, and other things every week.
Even though buildings may fall and communities crumble, the Japanese people have a strong foundation built on honesty. It will take more than a tsunami to take away the honesty of the Japanese people. Our hearts’ go out to the victims of this catastrophe and our respect goes out to those honest individuals who are doing their best to revive their communities.
August 19th, 2011
This story is inspiring as it exemplifies a person that despite his difficult circumstances has made it a point to show kindness and generosity even with the little he has. We may never know the impact we can have on another person with a good deed or for that matter how much we may need a helping hand sometime in the future when we are going through difficult times.
I myself have fallen on bad times in this economy but I have been blessed to have been given the opportunity to witness a person who has also had his share of trials, for the same reason, but seems to be able to look beyond his own troubles and care for strangers in need.
Robert is an electrical contractor in Atlanta, Ga. — hires me as a helper when he has work and needs help. He has had to file for bankruptcy, lost his home and now has to live back at home, with his mother, at the age of 46.
2 stories about how good a person he is:
We had a job in Fort Benning, Ga. Robert bought me breakfest at a McDonalds there. As we went to leave appearently someone needing work had noticed his work truck outside and approached us asking if he could get some work from Roberts’ company. Robert explained there was no work for the man and the man started to walk away. I figured that was the end of that but as I looked from the departing man back to Robert, I saw Robert getting out his wallet. The guy was gone — walking away a done deal — but Robert got out cash — went after the guy and gave it to him. When we were back in the work truck – I asked Robert — “Why did you chase him down ? – he was gone you were out of that begging” — Robert said “he really looked down on his luck — what does a few bucks matter”.
After a very long, hard day on a project in Austell, Ga. we stop at a Quick Trip for a soda for the drive back home. I got through the check out ahead of Robert and went back out to the work truck. Beside the truck was a women in a car. She had 3 kids in the car with her and asked me if I could help — she had been evicted — had no where to go with her children – the were living in the car. I told her I was also hurting in these times — sorry I could not. Robert came out opened the work truck and we got in. I immediately told him about the lady begging me for help and her circumstances — I was not being kind. I didn’t even finish my interpretation of the story when Robert was out his door — around the truck and giving the women money to help her and her kids out. When Robert returned I asked ” Why did you do that, she didn’t even ask you”. He said “I have an ex-wife and a kid — maybe, heaven forbid, if they need help and I am not able, someone will help them”.
Robert is a great guy, he really gives and expects no return. I wish I could be as caring in these times.
Sent in by Edward
August 24th, 2011
