"Never Grow Weary of Good Works: An Affirming Ride"

While watching a futile, somewhat woeful and eventual heart-thumping Denver Broncos losing effort on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the mind wanders back to this Starbucks coffee shop on Kansas City's Country Club Plaza. It's just a short walk from the hotel where darling wife and your scribe spent the past few days while visiting my home town to check on 86-year-old mom, visit family/friends and enjoy fall days in the Midwest. Weatherwise? This is the time to visit. The humidity seems to evaporate, the fall colors are awesome and "Indian Summer" temperatures are fabulous. Every visit home usually includes a trip to this coffee shop? Why? Ain't got nothing to do with the quality of products sold and everything to do with the incredible reminder it has to one of A Stronger Cord's basic tenets: Never grow weary of doing good for others because nobody reaps a benefit more than us. Often, when least expected. I had a powerful reminder to that truth at this Starbucks many years ago. Here's how it unfolded. Darling wife and yours truly were in Kansas City to visit family around a speaking gig on Saturday morning. It was an honor to have a conversation about achieving goals and overcoming challenges with the Raytown South High School basketball team. At the time coached by legendary prep basketball coach, the late Bud Lathrop. He coached me too. As much about life and competing than basketball. "Bud Dog" was a dominant influence on this ol' jock. It's early Saturday morning. No later than 6:30am. I'm scheduled to speak to the team about ten. Lots of time to kill. I'm lying in bed pondering the options while remaining quiet to not disturb my bride, not a mornng person. The cranium is pondering options: Workout? Nope, hotel (at the time) did not have a gym. What else? How about walking down to Starbucks, grab a cup of Joe for my better half and ya know, do some people watching? I'm curious about people and think it's what birthed a career in journalism. Starbucks it is. I slither from bed, throw on a sweatshirt, stroll into elevator and emerge into the lobby. Two hotel bellhops, young guys who might be moonlighting there while full-time students at nearby UMKC, watch me warily. The previous day/evening in KC had been rather mild for winter time. Apparently, while we slept, things had changed. I'm walking to exit when the fellas, almost in unison, ask, "Where are you going dressed like that?" Well, it didn't take long to confidently announce, "I'm heading down to the Starbucks to get a cup of coffee and pastry for my significant other. You guys want a cup?" Without hesitation and again in concert, they offer, "Sure. But, dude? You ain't got enough clothes on!" Arrogantly I countered with, "Aw, don't worry about me. I grew up here. I'm used to these winters." They gave me one of those, "Okay clueless old man. You can't say you weren't warned." I should have headed the ominous notice. Upon entering the elements, a blast of arctic wind and cold almost knocked me over. An aging athlete began sprinting the three blocks to the coffee shop. The 40-yard-dash time ain't what it used to be but, because of the bone-chilling temperature, was completed with much haste. Once inside the store, huffing and puffing like crazy, again, it was time to ponder options. I had three cups of coffee and a pastry to transport. No way to achieve that and run as fast as possible. Option #1 pops immediately to mind: Call a cab. For a three-block walk. I reach into my pocket for the cellphone. Damn! I had left it in our room. What now? That's when the magic happened. Someone taps me on the shoulder, wondering, "Are you Mark McIntosh?" After affirming this truth the handsome guy offers, "My name is Robert Thompson. I grew up in Denver and used to watch you on CBS Denver all the time. I then went to University of Colorado Boulder and am a big Buffs fan." Okay. Cool. Thompson continued. "A few years ago I was out in California to watch the Buffs play the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl Stadium. I was walking around the stadium before the game looking for a ticket. I bumped into you. You gave me a press pass. I got to watch the game from the pressbox. It was unbelievable and I'm never had a chance to say thank you!" Opportunity was suddenly knocking for a guy wondering how to sprint three blocks on a bitterly cold morning while balancing a tray of coffee and pastries. I blurted out, "Robert? You wanna show me how grateful you are?" The Colorado native who had just moved to Kansas City THE WEEK BEFORE enthusiastically nodded in agreement as I pleaded, "Give me a ride back to my hotel!" He did. Relief and affirmation. While handing steaming hot cups of coffee to those smart-aleck bellhops, it was resonating within to the power of never growing weary of doing good for others. Why? Because, when least expected, we'll reap tremendous benefits. In this case, a trip down memory lane to an unforgettable ride affirming the truth of how helping others usually ends up helping us too. Believe it and, more important, live it! #goodbetterbest