The tall man and the little boy

I watched a tall man do something really kind in a quiet way for a small child a couple of weeks ago. Here’s what happened.

We were at a 5k race/walk out at Keeneland and a member of our parish, a 6-year-old little boy, won an age group medal. The boy was there with his mom and dad and his 4- year-old brother. The little brother watched his big brother get his prize. He clapped along with all the rest of us. Then he sank a bit as little kids do when they feel left out. 

The tall man saw the little boy’s spirit dim from across the way.

He moved quickly and quietly to the little boy's mother and whispered a question into her ear, she answered him whispering in his ear. Then the tall man moved to the announcer and whispered something in his ear.

The announcer then put the mic to his mouth and announced that he had accidentally overlooked one of our winners. Then he looked at the little boy and said his name loudly announcing him as the first place winner of walker’s division.

The little boy looked at his mom with wide eyes, she nodded, and he went to retrieve his prize, all smiles. A young woman put the medal around the little boy's neck and he returned to his family beaming. We all clapped loudly for the little boy and the tall man too.

That didn’t have to happen. But it did. A grown-up had eyes to see a place that he could sneak love into the life of a small child, so he did. And we were all the better for it. The scene reminded me of the woman in one of Jesus’ parables who snuck some yeast into a whole bunch of flour. Just as yeast makes flour rise, love makes life rise.