I spy joy in giving

The parking lot where my car sits while I'm at work every day is frequented by several homeless people. I used to think I had great parking karma when I'd come in at close to 9am and still get a spot up against the building near the sidewalk. Then one day I arrived to find the real reason I was so lucky: at the head of one of these prime spots was a person sleeping. Some days there were two or even occasionally three people there. The days I got great parking weren't due to the "parking angels" at all; it was because someone had been sleeping there not too long before I pulled in.

After nine months of parking in this lot, I've grown accustomed to its nighttime tenants. But today, walking out of the lot, I saw something new. Hanging on the parking meter just 20 feet from where homeless people can often be found was a wool jacket. This in itself was enough to catch my eye, but when I saw the tag still on the jacket I had to take a closer look. The jacket was purchased from Goodwill for just under $10.

I wasn't there to see how this jacket came to rest on the meter, but you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure it out. It's December, the week after Thanksgiving, and it's getting cold out. Some thoughtful person must have figured one of the homeless people who sleeps in the lot could use a wool coat about now. And for roughly what it costs to eat one lunch out this coat will make the winter months a bit warmer for someone in need.

When I came back at the end of the day the jacket was gone. I'm hoping it's being worn this minute by one of the many people I see walking around downtown that need it. It brings me great joy to know at least three people have already been warmed by this random act of kindness: the person who bought the jacket, the person who is wearing the jacket, and me.

Interested in hearing more about joy? Or helping to spread it? Visit www.ispyjoy.com.