bell ringer

it was cold last night. bitterly cold. i stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things. i had a small list i had written in ink on my arm. i heard her bell. a woman who appeared to be middle-aged, volunteering her time for the salvation army. she had black snow pants on. not for snow, we haven't had any but for warmth. white shoes. a thick red coat that looked like the heaviest rug i've ever seen, and a scarf pulled over top her head. she rang that bell. and rang that bell. and rang that bell some more. it seemed as though she were getting paid per ring. she was full of joy. you could hear it in her voice as she wished each person who walked by her a happy holidays. i thought to myself when i walked by, more bell ringers should be like this woman. until last night it hadn't felt like the holidays. but she exuded what this time of year is all about. i gathered my things in the store, and bundled up for the cold long walk to my car. as i wished her a goodnight and threw a dollar in her red can, the sign above her head caught my eye. it simply read, "doing the most good". i have to admit... i spent most of the ride home thinking about it. doing the most good? how can they say that? how can they claim that their organization does the most good with their monetary donations? i work in advertising. i understand this concept to reach the publics mind. who wouldn't want to donate to a cause that does the most good? but still in my mind it takes away from the child who donates all of his piggy bank earnings, or an elderly man who gives every last bit of his energy to the homeless and in-need in the community. maybe they are doing the most good. who's to say?! and then it hit me. maybe they didn't mean "doing the most good", but instead meant "doing the most... good." it just made sense to me. the most any of us can do. good. what's the most you can do? good. the sky was clear that night... and the moon lit up the sky. they say snow is on the way. the car warmed up quickly and i felt thankful toward whoever invented heat. it seems you learn from an early age to excel. to win in life. to achieve. the degree. the wife. the house. the cars. the kids. all the steps one must go through in order to achieve a level of greatness. in the next few weeks, i will be reminded that the most any of us can do.. is good.