On a rainy Sunday morning, I took a short drive to the market. I was out of eggs and I needed a few for my yummy breakfast plans. It was still pretty early, so I didn’t expect much on a day seemingly destined for inside activities.

Welp, as it will, the world surprised me. 

Up the hill from my house, at a small and sweet local coffee shop, high school kids were wearing parkas and holding umbrellas and painted signs advertising their fundraising car wash. They were smiling and dancing and enjoying the wet morning. Pop up tents were set and hoses sprayed as a few early bird autos lined up to support a good cause. It was an unexpected, but pleasant, scene.

A few blocks down the street from the car wash, the parking lot and road shoulder at a local church was filled with more tents and people with umbrellas and smiles. They waved different signs, but were the same happy. Again, I wasn’t expecting to be greeted by such glorious joy through my wet windshield. I like days like this.

I finished my store run, waved as I drove by my lovely neighbors in the rain, made my big, meaty, cheesy breakfast, and felt pretty good the rest of the day. This is the power of such things. Joy is contagious. The loving and laughing people in the rain had it and shared it. I was infected as I’m sure many others were, too. And, in a world full of lesser things, a rainy Sunday morning drive for eggs felt like a special event and probably a gift. I think it was. If not, it was sure a fine reminder that simple, good things exist and aren’t rare and might be the most valuable things we get. And regular, beautiful people make them so.

This is always true and I’m glad it is.

Dave Markwell is a life-long Des Moines liver and lover. Former owner of Waterland CrossFit and the Waterland Arcade, Dave uses his unique story-telling voice to help small businesses tell a better story, and his love for people to help folks live bigger and better lives. For more info, check out his website: wordsbydave.net