Driving home from work, the timing belt broke and my car stalled out on the curve of a ramp that traffic takes at high speed. I knew drivers coming up behind me would not see me in time to and I would inevitably get rear-ended. Since the ramp was elevated on columns there was really no where for me to go.

A man, African-American, middle-aged, wearing a business suit and fedora came up behind me in a Mercedes, and stopped. He risked his own safety to get out of his car and come up and offer an assist.

I accepted, and he used his car to slowly push my car up the ramp and down the road to the next exit, which had an auto repair/gas station at the end of it. I left my car there, and accepted his offer for a ride home.

I was near tears about my car breaking down and the close call in traffic. I thanked him profusely, and said "you must be a guardian angel." He answered "No, I'm a mason." He explained that he was driving in the other direction when he saw me stalled out near the top of the ramp. He knew I was in trouble and needed help, and his masonic oaths did not allow him to just pass me by.

He went all the way around, at least a mile, to offer his help. I was totally floored by his commitment to his oaths as a mason and his sheer generosity. That was about 25 years ago. I hope he had a good life.