In the heart of Edmonton, Alberta a not-so-simple act became breaking news!
In one cold Canadian city a chilling incident unfolded — literally. One stranger's uninvited note, on a cold night quickly became a hot topic after going viral on Reddit.
The Shocking Note
It all started when university student, Derek Murray returned to his car after a long day, on a chilly night.
He saw a note tucked under his wiper blades and groaned anticipating it was a bad omen.
The good news was it wasn't a parking ticket...the bad news? It was a note from a complete stranger and it looked long — never a good sign.
Murray braced himself for an angry pedestrian complaining about his parking or other hateful words.
He had no idea what he was going to read was much more complicated.
The Unsolicited Note Began With, “I Noticed You Left Your Lights On…”
Read the Full Message Below:
"I noticed you left your lights on. The battery will probably not have enough charge to start your vehicle. I left a blue extension cord on the fence and a battery charger beside the fence in the cardboard box. If you know how to hook it up, use it to start your car. It is simple: Hook the red clip to the positive terminal of your battery and the black clip to the negative terminal. Do not touch the black and red clips together while the charger is still plugged in. The charger is already set on 12 volts and start mode. You might have to wait a few minutes to let the battery charge. Good luck."
Sharing Your Resources
When one Good Samaritan noticed that a fellow Edmontonian had left their car lights on, rather than passing by, indifferent to the situation, this anonymous do-gooder took the time to craft a handwritten note and leave it on the car.
Not only that, he also left him a pair of free jumper cables and a car battery too!
The instructions continued with clear steps, showcasing the altruistic nature of this helpful stranger: "Hook the red clip to the positive terminal of your battery and the black clip to the negative terminal. Do not touch the black and red clips together while the charger is still plugged in. The charger is already set on 12 volts and start mode. You might have to wait a few minutes to let the battery charge."
The stranger's note, which has since become the talk of the town after being shared on Reddit, outlined a thoughtful solution to a potentially expensive and time consuming problem!
Sometimes a miracle looks like a blue extension cord and a battery charger left neatly beside a fence.
Good Samaritan’s Gesture Sparked Wave of Goodwill in the City — Literally
The photo of the note spread rapidly across the internet, gaining over 1,500 comments and gaining the praise of many.
Derek Murray, the fortunate recipient of this unexpected assistance, expressed his astonishment at the stranger's kindness.
"The first thing I thought of when I read it was this is one of those things that you see online that goes viral -- this doesn’t happen to me. This doesn’t happen to anyone I know," shared Murray, a university student in Edmonton.
As the realization of the stranger's generosity sank in, Murray couldn't help but appreciate the selflessness displayed. "Then it just kind of struck me how awesome this guy was. He took so much time out of his day for a complete stranger who he may not have even liked me parking in front of his house to begin with, so that made me even appreciate it all even more."
Going the Extra Mile Makes All the Difference
Now, in a bid to continue the spirit of goodwill, Murray is on a quest to find and thank the anonymous helper. He plans to gift the good samaritan a bottle of wine as a token of appreciation.
Even if he can't track him down, his viral story has already paid it forward!
When we lead with compassion we can create a chain reaction of positivity. When we have the opportunity to go the extra mile for a neighbour in need — we should! Even though it may take a little time out of your day it has the power to change someone else's.
One man's anonymous good deed reminds us of the impact unexpected gestures have — and you should always have a car battery lying around if you live in a cold Canadian city!
