Quite often we read something or hear someone speak of ‘random acts of kindness.’ Such acts of kindness are not necessarily an act of bravery like the saving of a child from drowning or rushing into a burning building to save an elderly person who is about to perish. Random acts of kindness are the simple things like helping someone cross the street, picking up a bag of grocery that have fallen from the hands of an overloaded person, or presenting a plate of fresh-baked cookies to the shut-in next door. It does not have to be anything heroic, but a simple gesture from being kindhearted and showing concern for others.
On a recent trip through California I fell. Falling is nothing new for me but on this occasion, I was injured. In my attempt to pick myself up off the ground, I had to scoot across the ground until I was able to reach a post to pull myself up. The awkward and painful task was witnessed by a number of motorists who passed me by without thought of my need for help.
Now, know that I am not complaining or being critical of others, but the situation did cause me to contemplate the question, “How is it that we have become too busy or too preoccupied to be kind to one another?” Without question we are a busy society, rushing here and there on our way to somewhere important; too busy to stop and offer aid when we know that someone is need of help. Have we unintentionally shut others out and become self-centered and self-absorbed?
When we lived in Phoenix our home was built in a master-planned community of several hundred houses. At the end of the workday, most everyone would drive into their driveway, open the garage door via remote control, enter the garage and remotely shut the door. Typically, we did not leave the house until the following morning; thus, there was little, or no interaction with your neighbors. In fact, in most cases you didn’t even know your neighbor’s name, much less what they were experiencing in life or any need that they might have.
The apostle Paul told the Christians at Ephesus to “Be kind to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32) The words ‘be kind’ mean ‘nice, thoughtful, compassionate and humane.’ The latter should speak to who we are: Human beings who are kindhearted in simple care of one another. So, let us try and be more observant to see the needs of others; lift our heads for just a moment from our phone screens and texting, and see someone in need to whom we can be a blessing. Let us randomly (without thought of cost to ourselves), do something to help another. Your act of kindness may be the greatest blessing of their day.
-Jerry L. Dunn, Oak Street Baptist Church
