Caine's Arcade

This inspiring video shows how one man rallied a community together in East LA to make a child’s day!

The dreams and ambitions of children are so fragile and it is important to fan the flames of their creativity and their belief in themselves and their own abilities.  This little boy believed so strongly that he would get customers to his homemade arcade, despite kids at school dismissing the idea and his father constantly witnessing his son’s empty waiting. 

The boy thought of everything and tirelessly improved upon what he had created, until one day a customer came.  And that one customer didn’t just make the boy’s day by playing Caine’s Arcade, rather he used social media to encourage good hearted people who were willing to spare a few hours to come out and join him!

As I reflected on this video I thought of what a small and commendable act this was because it took a stranger to make this work.  Sure, Caine’s father could have rallied family and friends to play Caine’s arcade, but it would not have been the same as the boy’s talents being truly recognized and validated by others who do not know him.  Parents are supposed to tell their children how smart and wonderful they are and to praise their accomplishments, but when someone who is not required to do so takes the time to recognize them, it is an accolade they will not forget!  Truly this is something we do not grow out of as adults when someone recognizes a proposal we have written in the business world or just admires the garden we have planted as they walk by the front door.  From those who know how hard we have worked and compliment us because they love us, the compliment is well received but not as validating as the stranger who recognizes the quality and goodness of the work without any stake in effecting our feelings. 

If this one man had not come to play Caine’s arcade and if the days and months continued with the little boy waiting day in and day out, I wonder how his story would be different.  Would Caine have eventually given up on his idea or doubted his hard work, the way that the kids at school had.  Would he have told his dad he didn’t want to go to work with him anymore and eventually look back as an adult and laugh at how silly his cardboard arcade was and wonder what his dad’s customers had thought of such a thing?

Instead Caine will never forget the recognition he received and it will empower him to pursue further creative ambitions – possibly become an engineer or inventor.  One thing is for sure and that is when Caine looks back on his arcade as an adult, he will look back fondly at the very creative endeavor of an intelligent child rather than a silly waste of time in the back room of his dad’s auto parts store.

Being those strangers, let us not falter in taking advantage of these opportunities when we come across the Caine’s arcades in our own neighborhoods.  Always set aside your embarrassment and go up to a stranger with your compliment, never knowing how deep it will plant.