I finished up afternoon PT. I was sweaty but felt good. I still had a few moments before I had my next appointment. I decided to go through the car wash business where I have a membership. I pulled up to the little gate and waited for the arm to lift. It did, I pulled up to wait my turn to enter the wash. A couple of kids brushed the front and rear of my car with suds mops, and squirted my car with water, and my wheels began to be pulled into the wash.

A moment later I emerged at the other end of the tunnel of suds. I pulled to the vacuum hoses and got out to begin vacuuming my car’s interior. A smiling man walked over to me as I was grabbing the vacuum hose. He extended his hand.

“Sir, good afternoon. I just wanted to thank you for your service,” and he smiled and shook my hand.

“Thank you, brother,” I said. “You prior service?” I asked.

“No. My dad was. This was his last duty station, and he retired here. So I’ve been here my adult years. He was a crew chief on Chinooks in Vietnam.”

We talked and talked about Chinooks, about his dad’s career, and I felt as though we were becoming buddies straightaway, he was so genuine and open.

“I sold cars here for years, but I’ve been around the world with my dad’s career. I was born in Munich, Germany. My sister was born in Frankfurt. I never served, but I want you to know how much I appreciate you,” he said.

“Thank you, brother. That’s very kind. It’s been great ministry, and I too have spent a great deal of time abroad. I know Munchen well. Frankfurt, too,” I said.

“My name’s Mike,” he said, and shook my hand again. “If you ever need anything when you come through this car wash, you just ask for Mike, and I’ll take care of you.”

We agreed it was a deal, and I felt like two minutes of kindness and courtesy fell upon me like spiritual sunshine. As a friend of mine wrote recently, a bit of courtesy goes a long way.

And to Mike’s dad, Chief, wherever you are, you raised your son to be a good man. Salute.