A Leap of Faith
A True Story of Kindness Across Continents
What is a leap of faith?
It’s believing in something that defies logic. Trusting the unknown. Saying yes when your mind screams no. It’s hoping that — just maybe — the universe has your back.
This is a story about one such moment. And how it changed three lives.
Bali, in Lockdown
At the time, I was staying in Bali, riding out the pandemic. The island was unusually quiet. Borders closed, beaches empty. A place once buzzing with life had fallen still. Bali’s economy, which relies almost entirely on tourism, had come to a sudden halt.
No visitors meant no work. And no work meant no income — for anyone.
Like many, my local driver Budi had lost everything. He’s a gentle soul, always kind, always fair. But now, he had no rides to give and no way to support his family. He doesn’t have a bank account or access to Western Union. He’s part of the cash economy, like so many on the island.
One day, out of the blue, I receive a message:
"I want to send Budi some money. The easiest and safest way would be by bank transfer. Please let me have your bank details and full name. Pollie"
I froze.
Pollie? Who was Pollie?
It sounded like a fake name from a scam email. And she wanted to transfer money to my bank account? Red flags flew up. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios — phishing, fraud, stolen identities. I’d heard too many horror stories.
I asked Budi if he knew a Pollie. He wracked his brain. Maybe? He had so many customers before the pandemic… but his number had changed. No one had contacted him directly.
The whole thing felt sketchy.
To Trust or Not to Trust?
I debated with myself. Back and forth. Round and round. Was this genuine kindness — or a very clever scam?
One part of me wanted to believe it. Another part said absolutely not.
But in my heart, I knew that Budi needed help. And if — if — this Pollie person was real, this could be the only way to get him support.
It was a choice.
So I decided to take a leap of faith.
Nervously, I said yes.
I sent Pollie my bank details and waited. Bracing myself to watch my bank account drain in real time. Imagining the headlines: “Woman duped by random do-gooder email.”
But instead… a small miracle happened.
The Leap Pays Off
Not only did my account stay intact — a generous sum appeared in it.
Pollie had trusted me. And I hadn’t betrayed that trust.
I rushed to the ATM, withdrew the money, and called Budi. A few hours later, he had the cash in his hands. We sent Pollie a photo — Budi’s face lit up with a stunned, quiet joy. He looked like he’d just witnessed magic.
And maybe he had.
Later, Pollie told me she’d panicked after sending the money. “What was I thinking? I should have sent a test amount!”
She, too, had taken a leap of faith.
A Chain of Trust
In the end, all three of us — a driver in Bali, a stranger somewhere else in the world, and me in the middle — chose to trust.
We stepped into the unknown and found something unexpectedly beautiful there:
Human connection. Generosity. Kindness. Trust.
That single leap of faith gave Budi a month’s rent — and gave Pollie and me something just as precious: renewed faith in people.
We stayed in touch. Pollie and I became good friends. And every now and then, we still look back and marvel at what happened.
✨ What Taking a Leap of Faith Can Do
Sometimes, a leap of faith feels small.
Sometimes, it feels terrifying.
But sometimes… it’s exactly what the world needs.
This story is just one example. But it’s a reminder: there’s still good in the world. And you might just be part of it — if you’re willing to take the leap.
