The
picture that the volunteer firefighters in Reserve Mines, Nova
Scotia entered
in the “Fire Hall Photo Contest” was stunning!
It showed the crew, a couple of fire engines and even a
hovering rescue
helicopter all shrouded in dramatic lighting.
Everyone who saw the picture said they were sure to win the
$5000 first
prize and they were right. Within
days, they
had received so many votes that they were winning by a landslide. Then, the firefighters of
Reserve Mines saw
another picture.
Smith’s
Cove fire department near Digby, Nova Scotia had entered the
contest as
well. Their picture was
not nearly as
impressive as the one Reserve Mines had submitted. There was no dramatic
lighting and certainly
no hovering helicopter. It
was just a
picture of a group of dedicated volunteers standing in front of
their fire
hall. Smith’s Cove
received enough votes
to get into second place, but they had no chance of winning.
That
is
until Reserve Mines dropped out of the competition.
Not
only did Reserve Mines drop out, but they encouraged everyone who
had voted for
them to recast their vote for the group in Smith’s Cove. Eventually, the small
department won the
contest and used the prize money to buy some much needed
equipment.
“It
was
actually a pretty good feeling, because we were helping a
department that
needed the money a lot more than we do”, said Reserve Mine’s
Chief, Jeff Aucoin.
In
a
time when many think only about themselves, an act of selflessness
stands
out. In fact, this one
made the national
news.
The
truth is that when we help others, we end up helping ourselves. There is a reason why people
say, “It is more
blessed to give than to receive”.
Why
not
give it a try?
Your
act of kindness may not make the nightly news, but it can make
your corner of
the world just a little bit better.
“Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in
humility value
others above yourselves. Each
of you
should look not only to your own interests, but also to the
interests of others”
(Philippians 2:3-4).
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