Who said angels have wings?

From Victor Karunairajan in Toronto

(December 09, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) This morning December 9, 2008, I woke up to the following stories in The Toronto Star that certainly re-affirms my belief that there are many people out there with hearts of gold and will go a few extra miles in their lives to offer the goodness and warmth that are ingrained in their lives.

When there is a lot of material in newspapers about cheats, child abusers and those people who finance and support terrorism of various kinds, such acts of kindness reveal the human facets that have inspirational impacts on us. Let me share these with the readers of Sri Lanka Guardian through the kind courtesy of The Toronto Star.

The kind-hearted mechanic

On a recent Saturday afternoon, I spent some time trying to find a garage in Aurora that would install my snow tires. Unfortunately many places closed up early and of those that were still open, many turned me away.

As I was just about to give up and go home, I decided to stop at one last shop. The gentleman working there was occupied with two other vehicles. He told me that he was behind schedule and that he wanted to finish the cars and go home.

I was already starting to head for the door. But he stopped me and told me to bring the car around and he would quickly put the tires on for me.

I asked him how much it would cost, and he said, "No charge, I just want to finish these other cars so I can go home." I offered him $30 several times, but he refused my money. All he asked was that I went home and took my kids out for lunch with that $30. - Thank you, John Bishop at R&S Auto, Michael Grossi, Aurora

A lovely gesture

I was dating a girl called Ariel a few years back. We ended our relationship because of my wrongdoings. Recently, on the morning of presenting my Ph.D. dissertation I got an email from her wishing me luck. That little note meant the world to me. She was my support pillar during the toughest years of grad school. To Ariel, thank you. Rashid Magoo, Toronto

A horrible skunky experience

In 1997, my wife and I visited Maine, sleeping in a tent each night. In Boothsbay Harbor, we were sleeping in a private campground, when a dog chased a skunk and killed it right beside our tent releasing the skunk's scent.

We ran out of the tent grabbing what we could, got into our brand new Honda Civic and drove into town, since we couldn't raise anybody at the campground office. Not knowing what to do we went to the local police station, where we were helped by staff who politely asked us to stand outside because we smelled so bad.

A police officer came out to us, but stood 20 feet away. He got us a motel room for the night. Our car smelled so bad the next day, we could barely get in. We were hundreds of miles from home, and quite traumatized by this time.

We went to a business that offered car cleaning. It was owned by a young man, who upon hearing our story, not only efficiently cleaned our car, thereby eliminating the odour, but also gave us the keys to his personal new truck so we could rescue our remaining property from the campground and have a vehicle to use while the car was being cleaned.

We still often think of this young man and are eternally grateful to him. Paul Brace, Warkworth, Ontario.

A kindly hand Down Under

When I was 18, I was traveling in Australia with two friends. We had just arrived in Hobart, Tasmania, and were discussing sights we wanted to see.

Bonorong Wildlife Park was near the top of our list, but we had no way of getting there, as it is located outside of the city, and we were too young to rent a car.

While we were considering our options, a lady sitting at the next table introduced herself and said she was headed out that way the next day to visit a friend, so she'd be happy to drop us off. We gratefully accepted her offer.

The next day, not only did she drive us out to the park and pick us up, she also invited us to her home for dinner, and drove us back to our hostel at the end of the day. In part, thanks to her kindness, Tasmania was one of the highlights of that trip. Christine Pavan, Toronto

A volunteer angel

Being a newly landed, semi-qualified immigrant in 2004, I was unable to get a decent job offer. I was sitting on a bench in the Square One mall with my wife, discussing whether to go back to the United Arab Emirates where I had a good job and life. Noticing the tension on our faces and that of my kids, an elderly couple walked to our bench to ask if they could help.

My wife could not speak but cry, and I explained what I was going through. They asked us to accompany them, took us their to their home for supper, contacted their friends and we both were working in our areas of expertise the very next day. My faith in angels was revived! Thanks, Henry uncle and Bretta aunty! Arun Rajagopalan, Mississauga

Note by Victor Karunairajan: The last story also expresses a great tradition of the people of South Asia and possibly of other regions in the east too, to recognize strangers who come into our lives as relatives, the highest tribute that one can give to those who share their kindness with others. When people are addressed as aunties and uncles, it marks respects for elders something the people of the west will do well to learn from those of the east. - Sri Lanka Guardian