"Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the the people you can, As long as ever you can." -- John Wesley

It seemed like we weren't going to find a parking spot anywhere within a mile of the park. We had been circling in the Powderhorn neighborhood hoping to find a space close enough we'd be able to catch part of the annual May Day Parade wrapping into the park. Unfortunately, thousands of people had had that same idea... about an hour before we did. Every block was lined with cars snugged into the curb bumper to bumper.

I was driving south on Elliott a few blocks from the parade route, a bit dejected, conceding we'd have to head to the outer limits to find a spot.

A woman walking in the street toward the park flagged us to a stop.

"Are you looking for a place to park?"

"Uh, yes," we answered, a bit skeptically.

"My house is at the end of the block. It's the only one with a driveway."

Though neither of us said anything, we were both thinking, "Right, what's this gonna cost us?"

"There's a blue car parked there. Just pull in behind it. You can park there. We're not going anywhere. We won't need to get our car out. Just leave yours there and you won't have to worry about it. No problem."

Huh?

We parked, looking at each other with disbelief as I turned off the ignition. It wasn't a huge offer, but still not the kind of thing that happens every day.

As we walked back along that same block I noticed there was a space on the street. I thought about going back and moving my car there. But I figured I'd let someone else have a lucky day too -- showing up even later than we had and finding that open spot.

But get this. As we headed east at an intersection, a young father, walking north from the same corner with his wife and 5-year-old daughter, backpedaled, and without prompting, asked us for directions to the park and parade. A guy? Asking directions?

Spring was in the air!

Brian
BLOG: Brian@GrowthWorks--Life, Learning & Leadership
www.growthworksinc.com