Fridays with Mac: When Duty Calls

There are moments in life, at least for me, that drill deep into the marrow. Moments where truth, about key aspects of the journey, comes crashing into cranium and embeds itself. Powerful reminders about what’s REALLY important. I had one recently: Let’s never grow weary of doing good things for each other.

The reminder manifested itself in this old jock’s noggin’ during a ride to Denver International Airport, courtesy of a dear friend. As we cruised toward our destination, a powerful, and ultimate, example of never growing weary of good deeds was expressed as the woman driving - she’s like a sister - talked about her brother. Recently, the 56-year-old father of two died unexpectedly while helping others. Tragic.?

On a snowy and icy stretch of Interstate 90 in Spokane, Washington, Scott Moore was driving when a car ahead spun off the highway and tumbled down an embankment. The Good Samaritan stopped, scurried down the embankment and discovered a family in the vehicle - rattled, but not seriously injured.

A short while later, the grandfather of three was helping the family trudge back up the hill toward the highway, and his warm car, parked along its shoulder. Then the horrific happened. Another car traveling the slick span lost control, slid off the highway and right into Scott, a man who loved to fish, especially for opportunities to serve and help others. He died instantly.?

However, just before this man’s life was terminated far too early, he did something remarkable: shoved a nine-year-old girl he was escorting to safety from harm’s way. Watching video of Spokane’s KREM-TV, Channel 2, report on the accident brings tears to the eyes to hear the young girl who was spared probable death, leave a grateful voice mail at Moore’s son’s home, calling the heroic Moore, “an angel.”

“He died doing what he loved,” my precious friend offered as we cruised toward the airport to pick up her hubby and drop me off for a flight to Chicago. Amen to that. The parents of the child Moore saved went to social media, praising and exalting their child’s “angel.” That angel grew up in suburban Denver before heading west and settling in Priest River, Idaho. He was also a son, brother, husband, hard-working railroad general manager and buddy to many. Scott Allan Moore brought great value to others’ lives. Ultimately, he sacrificed his own life to ensure another. Honorable.

How can we bring value to others? Simple question with a plethora of possible answers.? For your correspondent, a few things come to mind:? our reticular activating systems must be on alert for value-delivering opportunities and we must have the courage to act once we feel, as Emerson would say, “the vibration of the iron string within.”

I had one such experience earlier in the week almost 12 years ago. before this drive to the airport but after learning of Moore’s heroism. I was sitting in a Denver area coffee shop between meetings and catching up on emails. Minding my own business, when duty called to never grow weary of doing good for others.

“I’m in Denver, I have no money, half a tank of gas and the weather is terrible,” a man seated close by told someone emotionally via a cell phone. Denver was in the midst of its first winter storm of the season and conditions were bad, especially for a guy -? as I learned from overhearing the conversation - from south Florida.

He was distraught and trying to drive to Salt Lake City. His 12-year-old son and former wife, who lived in Utah’s capitol city where they had been involved in a terrible vehicle accident. The former wife was killed,? his son critically injured and now in a medically-induced coma. He was driving a car with front-wheel drive and bald tires. Passable for tropical Florida, but disastrous in wintry Colorado.

I introduced myself. I learned the grieving father was a huge sports fan. It brought a smile to his face when told of my extensive sports background which included hosting sports talk radio. “You host a sports talk show? Wow, that’s always been my dream job!” We dived into strategies concerning getting him to Salt Lake City as quickly as possible.

A wonderful friend at CBS News Colorado , an employer for almost two decades, offered updated weather information. We determined the best route was through the mountains via Interstate 70, because going north to Wyoming and then west, while an easier drive in terms of terrain, would be taking him into the teeth of the storm. Once it was determined to go through the Eisenhower Tunnel that bores through Colorado’s Continental Divide, we knew the grieving man needed tire chains. An auto parts store right across the street carried them. Grateful. What next? Gas. Needed to fill up. Service station was another block away. Mission completed.

You know it’s been said “God works in mysterious ways,” right? What are the odds of being in that coffee shop at just that moment, hearing this man’s needs and then having resources at hand to help?

A man gave his life when duty called. I know Scott Moore’s spirit inspired me to help a desperate soul. This week let’s focus, when duty calls, on never growing weary of doing good things for others wherever we roam. It’s a great way to be remembered. Today, tomorrow, next year, forever.