PAY IT FORWARD

BY DAN MILLER
(originally posted August 18, 2005)

Sometimes little everyday events will remind me -- for a moment -- of a particular movie.

For example, if I get caught in the rain, I'll usually think about Gene Kelly splashing down that street in "Singing In The Rain"....
Or if I'm riding my little 49cc Honda scooter around the neighborhood at 20 mph, I might imagine myself in "Easy Rider".

And some days -- for one reason or another -- I feel like I'm living in a Three Stooges movie.

Last Friday night I got to thinking about the movie "Pay It Forward".
You may have seen it, or read the book.

The gist of the story is that, instead of the characters paying back a favor, they pay it forward.

If you'd like to try it, simply grant an unexpected good deed -- or favor -- to someone you might not even know.
Then later, in theory, you'll be on the receiving end of something good, and you'll already have paid it back.
Sort of a karma-like thing.

Last Friday as I wrapped up a night of fun at the Williamson County Fair with my wife and daughter, I still had six of those little "ride admission coupons" in my pocket.... worth about $5....
And since I knew we wouldn't be using them, I handed them to a young boy I spotted walking along the midway.

I thought -- "this is kinda like Pay It Forward".... and I figured I would surely be repaid later for this random act of incredible generosity.

Minutes later, as we walked toward our car, my wife suddenly stopped.
There on the pavement, in the middle of the parking lot, she had spotted a folded $5 bill.
She leaned down, picked it up, and handed it to me.
Coincidence?

____________________________