Not long ago I was standing in a ridiculously long line at 6:30 a.m. at the Philadelphia International Airport. If the line was not disturbing enough, I witnessed two incidents that challenged my faith in humanity.

I first noticed a disheveled man trying to manage his various bags while continuously moving forward in this line. That is not what disturbed me. Unbeknownst to himself, the man dropped a brown bag from a local eatery which I assumed to be his breakfast, or at least some travel snacks. The man in line behind this disheveled individual simply pushed the brown bag to the side with his foot.

Seriously?

I could not believe this nor stand it. I left my bags in my spot and maneuvered through the ropes to pick up the brown bag and give it to the man. No one seemed to watch me or say a word, apart from the woman behind me, which leads to my second disturbing tale.

The woman behind me was supposed to be leaving on a 7am flight. It being 6:30am did not give her much hope. I allowed her to pass me in line, which did not much help since there were at least fifty individuals ahead of me. No one else budged. Then the poor woman was randomly chosen for a full body pat down at the security check point.

What luck! Did anyone have rachmanus (compassion, as we say in Yiddish) on this woman besides me?! Apparently not.

Needless to say, by 7 a.m. I was extremely disappointed in the people of the world.

In the meantime, I went on my way and my mind became occupied with other things throughout the day and week ahead. A week later, I am at the gym at 6 a.m., watching the local news playing on the television. I catch another disturbing story of a local boy with autism whose bicycle was stolen from his home.

This poor kid loves riding his bicycle and I learn that it is one of the few activities in which he participates that seems to provide therapy and comfort for him. Ugh! Not again, I think to myself. It is only Monday morning and I would like to start my week with news of joy and hope.

But wait. The story continues. A local man heard of this story on the news the day before and immediately ordered the kid a new bike, contacted the television station, and then had it delivered to the boy’s home that day.

Alas, the act of kindness I was waiting to witness! My faith in humanity was restored and I began the week hopeful for change in our world.