Day 23: A Momentary Failure.

I said that I would update regularly on how I would try to apply acts of chivalry to every day situations. Tuesday was such a situation. I was at the grocery story in the self check out line awaiting a station to come open when in front of me, I saw an older woman and younger girl of about twelve years old. They were having a conversation, the contents of which I do not know, but I do know that the girl was upset about it. Granted, I do not know the details of what had happened before this or what their disagreement was, but I do know that the older woman (whom was not her mother as she referenced the girls mother during the conversation) was verbally abusive to the point of driving the girl to tears. I could not help but notice that the woman wore a shirt with a cross and hearts on it that spoke of spreading Christ love to all. The woman spoke with great anger and open hostility, at one point telling the girl to go stand over against the wall next to the exit, and wait for her to finish checking out her groceries. This led the girl to cry even more. These were not the tears of a temper tantrum or a cry for attention. These were tears of pain.

Other people in the area were watching as the girl cried and the older woman berated here in the middle of the grocery check out line. Most people pretended not to notice, but you could tell they were still paying attention to the spectacle.

And what did I do? Me, I was stuck in a internal conflict. Now-a-days, people don't want to get involved in situations like this. They think it is none of their business, and that is partly true. But the other part of me thought that I should have done something. One of the rules of chivalry talks of Defending the weak and the innocent. This young girl fell into that category, especially in comparison to the open hostility being unleashed on her.

But what did I end up doing? Nothing. I kept to myself, and let the verbal abuse continue.

I later thought about what I could have done in the situation. My wife, Laura, suggested that maybe I could have shown the girl a simple kindness. Maybe a smile or a hello to distract her from the situation, and maybe I can keep this in mind for future situations. It did not feel right to do nothing as I did, but maybe it was meant as a learning experience.