So on Friday we stopped to fill up gas at 7-Eleven before we left Provo. Right when we were about to leave this vehicle pulls up next to us and the man says, "Hey guys, can I ask you a big favor?" He proceeded to tell us that he needed some money for gas because his wife, who was sitting next to him, had an ultrasound appointment up in Salt Lake City in about an hour. He seemed genuine enough (though Moose later pointed out to me that he didn't have a ring on his hand). I decided to give him a five dollar bill (deciding to keep one Mister Washington in my wallet just in case), to which Moose matched with a ten. I asked the man if he had ever seen the movie Pay it Forward. After he answered with a no I began to explain the concept. Then I challenged him to pay it forward.
As we were leaving the parking lot I said out loud what I thought God might have been thinking.... "Let's see what kind of trip they want to have...." He monitors the experience, and then, "Okay, they'll get a good one." Our trip went well, with no major problems (though I rediscovered that I strongly dislike drinking sunboiled Powerade). I even drove stick well enough to make a dangerous, illegal maneuver in order to switch freeways at the correct junction and not get stuck in a twilight zone of turns and twists in order to find another entrance. Just imagine what would have happened if we didn't give that man fifteen bucks......
