Across the Mountain: A Story of Simple Kindness

Shane had been driving for hours when he finally pulled into a small gas station in Auburn, California, nestled at the base of a mountain range. He filled up his tank, grabbed some snacks, and quickly hopped back into his truck, eager to reach the other side of the mountain before it got too late. As he drove the winding roads, he felt relieved that his trip was almost over.

By the time he reached the other side, it was about midnight. Shane hadn’t eaten dinner, so he decided to get fuel and another snack before finishing the drive home. Stopping at a gas station, he grabbed his phone. His wallet was usually magnetically attached to the phone, and panic set in as he realized it wasn't there. His mind raced back to the previous gas station in Auburn. He must have left it there.

Without a moment's hesitation, Shane jumped into his truck and started the journey back over the mountain. The relief at being so close to home disappeared, as his headlights cut through the inky blackness, illuminating the narrow, twisting path ahead. He would have to travel this road three times in one evening.

Shane finally arrived at the Auburn fuel station, his heart pounding with a mix of hope and dread. The dimly lit area was quiet. Shane scoured the ground near the pump where he'd filled up earlier, checked inside the small convenience store, and even spoke to the lone attendant on duty. But his wallet was nowhere to be found.

Defeated, Shane drove back over the mountain, the journey now feeling twice as long. He arrived at home, exhausted and worried. With a heavy heart, he collapsed onto the bed and drifted into a restless sleep.

The next morning, Shane woke up and immediately went out to his truck to search for his wallet. Maybe he dropped it and simply missed it in the dark. He was disappointed, but not surprised that he still couldn’t find it. He couldn’t have lost his wallet on a worse day, the first day of the month. Every automatic bill would be coming due that day, and now he would have to freeze his credit card account. He resigned himself to a long, frustrating day on the computer.

Shane groggily reached for his phone and checked his email out of habit. To his surprise, there was a new message from LinkedIn. "Hi Shane,” the message began. "I found your wallet at the gas station yesterday. I’m traveling from the Bay area to Utah, and I took a chance of meeting up with you in Reno. I tracked you down through LinkedIn. I'd like to return the wallet to you. Please let me know how we can arrange this."

Relief washed over Shane. He quickly replied, expressing his gratitude and arranging to meet the stranger later that morning. The kindness of a stranger had turned his distressing ordeal into a story of unexpected generosity.

Author’s Note: Initially, I hesitated to share this story because, it seemed ordinary in our often sensationalized world. However, reflecting on it, I realized it underscores two important truths: #1 Good things can still happen, because good people do still exist. #2 Sharing positive experiences, no matter how small, is vital. In a world filled with negative news, these moments of kindness and generosity remind us of the inherent goodness around us.