Random Acts of Kindness

I LOVE the stories of “Random Acts of Kindness”, where people do something unusually kind, and certainly unexpected for someone they do not know.

For example, in 2014 in St. Petersburg, Florida, a customer at a drive-up window at Starbucks decided to pay for their coffee, and for the order of the car behind them.  Inspired by this act of kindness, the next customer chose to do the same, paying for the order of the car behind them.  The chain reaction continued throughout the day, with each person in the drive through paying for the next person’s order.  The phenomenon continued for 11 hours with a total of 378 consecutive customers participating in the “pay it forward” act of kindness.

And while that is a rather LARGE example, small ones are happening every day.  For example, there is a story of a woman named Vassi Booth who started visiting her aunt who was in memory care in Virginia.  Vassi quickly fell in love with the other residents, and now, she plans weekly arts and crafts events.

At a grocery store in Michigan called Meijer, there is a Pony Ride for children that costs one penny.  Frequently I have gone by that pony and seen stacks of pennies on the base of the ride, ready for children with moms too frazzled to have to scrounge through their purse for a coin.  Easy, inexpensive – nice.

And then there was the story of Basketball Coach Peter Morales of the Coronado H.S. Thunderbirds in El Paso, Texas.  Coach Morales’ manager was a kid named Mitchell Marcus.  Mitchell had a developmental disability, but was probably the most enthusiastic member of the team; and because basketball was that important to Mitchell, the coach told him to suit up for the last game of the year.

While wearing the jersey was true joy for Mitchell, he got an even bigger thrill when, with a minute and a half left in the game, coach put him in.  Now if you’ve ever heard the story of Jason Mcelwain (and if you haven’t Google it), this is where Jason’s story and Mitchell’s start to diverge. 

You see, despite the fact that his teammates made pass after pass to Mitchell, he couldn’t sink a shot! 

But right before the last buzzer, something incredible happened. 

As senior, Johnathan Montanez from the opposing team, was about to throw in a shot from the sidelines, Michell heard his name being called.  The voice was coming from Johnathan.  And, after calling his name, Johnathan threw the ball DIRECTLY to Michell, who then finally managed to sink it for two points. 

Even though Mitchell’s shot did not mean the “win" for the Thunderbirds, the crowd went wild.

Every day, random acts of kindness are putting little bits of light into an otherwise dark world.

In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus tells the story of a Good Samaritan.  In it, a Jewish man is attacked by robbers and left beaten on the side of the road to die.  A Jewish priest sees him, but crosses to the other side of the road to avoid an encounter.  A Levite (a Jewish person from the tribe of Levi), also sees the man but chooses to ignore him.  And then, a traveling Samaritan (traditionally a group of people who did not get along with the Jews) sees the man and takes pity on him.  He tends to him, bandages his wounds, and takes him to an inn where he pays the Innkeeper to look after the man.  He tells the Innkeeper that he will come back after his travels and reimburse him for any extra expense that is incurred.

Luke 6:27 says, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return and your reward will be great.”

Today, I think I’ll challenge myself to a random act of kindness.  Will you join me?