Compassion Over the Clock

There are moments in life when time seems to speed up, and every second matters. We find ourselves rushing from one place to another, consumed by the urgency of our schedules. But sometimes, life presents us with a choice a moment where compassion outweighs the ticking clock. One such moment still stands out vividly in my memory.

It was a typical day, and I was in a hurry to catch a train I had booked in advance. My dad and I were driving through the busy streets, and the pressure of making it on time loomed over us. The traffic was thick, and the minutes were slipping away. But then, something unusual caught our eye.

On the side of the road, a man lay sprawled, his vehicle tossed to one side, and he on the other. It was evident that he had met with an accident. His face showed the struggle as he tried, unsuccessfully, to get up. What struck me, though, wasn’t just the sight of his pain but the scene surrounding him. There were people everywhere, standing by the roadside, sipping their coffee, casually glancing his way. Yet no one moved. No one offered to help.

My mind immediately flicked to the train. If we stopped, we might miss it. I looked at my dad, hoping for a quick decision. And, without hesitation, my dad began pulling the car to the side. At that moment, I was torn. Part of me wanted to remind him that time was running out, that we had somewhere to be. But another part of me was in awe of his reaction.

"We need to help him," my dad said simply, his voice steady but firm. 

Without a second thought, my dad parked the car and rushed over to the man. I followed close behind, suddenly feeling the weight of the situation. As we got closer, I could see the distress in the man’s eyes. He was in pain, and there was fear in his expression. But my dad didn’t falter. He bent down, offering the man a hand, and together, we helped him sit up. We offered him water, spoke calming words, and stayed with him until he could regain his strength.

It didn’t matter that the people around us were still sipping their coffee, unconcerned with what was happening. In that moment, all that mattered was making sure this man was safe.

Once we were sure he was okay and had arranged for further assistance, we got back into the car. As we resumed our drive, I glanced at the clock, realizing that we were cutting it very close to missing the train. My heart raced, thinking about the hassle of finding another one. But, instead of worrying, I found myself feeling a strange sense of peace.

My dad’s act of kindness had shifted something in me. It made me realize that there are moments when the rush of life has to take a backseat. We often get so caught up in our own needs and schedules that we forget the power of simply stopping for someone in need. Watching my dad that day, I learned that true urgency lies in being human in recognizing when someone else’s pain is more important than our own priorities.

We did, in fact, miss the bus. But in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t matter. We found another way to get to where we needed to be, and life moved on. But that moment the sight of a man struggling, and my dad’s instinct to help left an indelible mark on me.

That day wasn’t just about missing the train . It was about slowing down enough to remember that, in the race of life, compassion should always come first.