Yesterday an errand took longer than expected and I wound up far from home in need of lunch. I popped into a small Thai restaurant for a bowl of curry. When I was almost finished, a man came in to pick up his take-out order. When he left, the Thai waitress came over and said he had paid my tab.
I was just stunned. I've heard of this happening but it's never happened to me. She said often monks come in there and others pay their bill. I looked around the small restaurant-- every table had 2 people except for one, where a man was checking out the menu. I whispered to the waitress that I was gonna pick up his tab when he ordered. She said it wasn't necessary, but you know I was giddy like a little kid just thinking about paying it forward.
I paid and left there on cloud nine. I was a kinder and more careful driver. I smiled all the way home. I was more loving towards my dogs and flowed into a stressful situation that arose for one of our beloved sangha members. Today my heart still feels softer and more open. It was such a beautiful example of how one person's act of kindness has a ripple effect that can never be measured.
And that curry was totally awesome.
Cool. And now I know someone that this actually happened to!
ReplyDeleteI loved this story.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how the man you bought dinner for responded when he discovered he didn't owe anything? It would be amazing if he decided to pay for someone else's food...but I guess we'll never know. :)
I love this, and it made my day to read it.
ReplyDeleteI have done this for a while, buying a coffee for the car behind me in the drive thru, especially on rainy, dreary days. It makes me feel good and I hope it made that person behind me feel good. And one day, someone bought my coffee. It's a wonderful feeling. Pay it forward!!
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