My youngest daughter, Jess, decided to join me on a road trip to Ohio this morning. I had won the bid for a cast iron woodburning fireplace insert on ebay. It would have cost more to ship it, than what I paid for it, due to its approximate 450 lbs. weight. So, we hopped in the truck and set out on a six hour drive.
We left West Chicago at 7am. It was beginning to snow heavily, but the forecast appeared clear to the East.
Visibility was bad, and it didn't help that I never changed the wiper blades that I should have changed when it was warm out. We stopped at a Target store along the way and purchased new blades. Soon enough, we were on our way.
It was a good time to talk with Jess about all of the things that are happening in our lives. We talked about her life at college, and all that pressures that go along with it. We talked about this Random Acts Project. She thinks its pretty cool.
As we spoke, it started to become more clear that the essence of this project is to reflect Christ's light constantly, in all situations, big and small. It should never stop shining. I realized that I was using it only when the need arose. Helping someone change a flat tire was easy. They had an obvious need, and I was there to help. Now, don't get me wrong, those situations are real and my act of kindness went a long way, but what about the majority of the people that don't have an obvious need, but simply need to connect with someone briefly?
We stopped for a quick bite at a McDonald's near the Indiana/Ohio border. It was noon, and we were almost to our destination. The place was packed, and chaotic. One of the four cashiers was a gal named Amanda. Amanda was obviously feeling the pressure of the prep staff not being able to keep up with the flow. Customers were complaining.
It was a complete gridlock. No one was moving. Amanda was desperately trying to avoid eye contact with anyone, knowing that she would be asked a question that she couldn't answer. But, she looked at me.
I smiled and asked about her Christmas. She cautiously said it was good. I asked a couple of other general questions like, "Were you with family?" "Did you get what you wanted?" Luckily for me, she did have a good Christmas, and it put a smile on her face. Then, I asked if she could go in the back and show them how to make a burger, so we could get the line moving. She laughed and took a couple of steps towards the back, as if she was going to do just that. She turned back and smiled, and said, "Nah, they can handle it."
Isn't that what this project is all about? Just simply connecting with another person as Christ did? He went out of His way to connect with the woman at the well. She had gotten herself into a bad situation with marrying and divorcing several guys, and living with a guy that wasn't her husband at all. She was ashamed. But, Christ came to her and offered forgiveness. The Judge of all creation chose not to judge her. Isn't that amazing? The one person in all history that is qualified to judge us, chose not to judge her. Instead, He offered forgiveness.
People hurt us in a variety of ways. Some intentional, and some not. The woman at the well knew she had made mistakes, and she was ashamed. So much so, that she went to draw water at the hottest part of the day, to avoid any contact with other people. But, Christ met her where she was - at the lowest part of her life. Instead of making her feel worse, He offered her relief. He gave her hope. He gave her direction. And, He simply said, "Go and sin no more."
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The Purpose of this Blog
To challenge others to step out of their comfort zone and show the world the love of Jesus Christ through random acts of kindness.
Jesus teaches about salt and light
"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world - like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:13-16 NLT)
How it all started
It was a cold December morning in Chicago. Air temperature 18 degrees. Wind chill zero degrees. I was travelling North on IL 53 just South of Palatine Rd. It was 9:30am.
I was in the left lane as I made the slow curve around Arlington Race Course when I saw a car pulled off on the right shoulder, hazard lights flashing, the left rear tire was flat. As I blew past I noticed exhaust from the tailpipe - the engine was running - and the silhouette of a woman in the drivers seat. There was no way that I could get over three lanes to stop and help, so I continued on.
This is nothing new - it happens every day. I see people broken down everywhere I go. I tried to make myself feel better by reasoning that she has already called someone, and that help is surely on its way. But the Spirit wouldn't let me go, not this time. The weight on my heart was too much to ignore.
I had heard a message not too long before this, and in the message was a quote from Dr. Edward Everett Hale which said,
"I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
I am an industrial equipment mechanic by trade. Although I don't do a lot of automotive repairs, I am fully capable of changing a flat tire. I can do this. So, why am I refusing, in my mind, to help this person in need? I decided in that moment to change my course and do the one thing that I can do.
I managed to get over and take the next off-ramp. I took a few back roads and made my way back to the highway. It was 15 minutes before I saw the car again, hazards still flashing. I pulled in behind the car, threw on my insulated cover-alls, and approached the driver.
I startled her when I knocked on her window. She wasn't expecting anyone. She was talking to her mother on her cell phone, and she was crying.
She had been sitting there for two-and-a-half hours, and no one had stopped. She had called for roadside assistance and was promised a tow truck by 12:00 noon - another two hours from now.
It was wicked cold outside, so I told her to stay in the car while I put on her spare. I don't think that I ever changed a tire as fast as I did that day.
She was ready to go in no time. She thanked me and then handed me her phone. Her mom was still on the line. Her mom couldn't believe that there was still someone in the world that would stop and help, purely as a random act of kindness. I told her that I had to stop, because I could.
Jesus said that we are to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. Salt brings out the best flavor in everything that it touches, and at the same time, acts as a preservative to keep things from spoiling. Light takes away the darkness. We turn on a light so that we can see. And, in the same way, these random acts of kindness should shine out for all to see, so that everyone will give praise to our Heavenly Father.
How many people drove past that young woman? Three lanes of highway traveling at 55 miles an hour for two-and-a-half hours - it was tens of thousands. How many were Christians? How many, just like me, convinced themselves that there wasn't anything that they could do, or that help was on its way? I'm not saying that there is something that we can do in every situation, but if we can do something, than we should do something.
Since this incident back in December 2009, I have made it a point to be more aware of my surroundings, of people in need, of lives that I can touch and give glory to our Heavenly Father.
My challenge to you is to do the same. As Dr. Hale said, I can't do everything, but I can do something. And, I will not refuse to do something that I can do." So, find something that you can do and do it. It may be just a smile and a hello, or an offer to help carry a package. We are so pre-programmed to ignore and avoid getting involved that just simply acknowledging a person is all that they are looking for. Whatever it may be, just one simple act of kindness, might be the first of a thousand steps that will lead a person to Christ. Let Christ's light shine through your action and see what happens from there. And just as easily as it may be the first step, it might also be the last... and, a soul is saved.
If you do touch a life in some way, please let me know.
I was in the left lane as I made the slow curve around Arlington Race Course when I saw a car pulled off on the right shoulder, hazard lights flashing, the left rear tire was flat. As I blew past I noticed exhaust from the tailpipe - the engine was running - and the silhouette of a woman in the drivers seat. There was no way that I could get over three lanes to stop and help, so I continued on.
This is nothing new - it happens every day. I see people broken down everywhere I go. I tried to make myself feel better by reasoning that she has already called someone, and that help is surely on its way. But the Spirit wouldn't let me go, not this time. The weight on my heart was too much to ignore.
I had heard a message not too long before this, and in the message was a quote from Dr. Edward Everett Hale which said,
"I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
I am an industrial equipment mechanic by trade. Although I don't do a lot of automotive repairs, I am fully capable of changing a flat tire. I can do this. So, why am I refusing, in my mind, to help this person in need? I decided in that moment to change my course and do the one thing that I can do.
I managed to get over and take the next off-ramp. I took a few back roads and made my way back to the highway. It was 15 minutes before I saw the car again, hazards still flashing. I pulled in behind the car, threw on my insulated cover-alls, and approached the driver.
I startled her when I knocked on her window. She wasn't expecting anyone. She was talking to her mother on her cell phone, and she was crying.
She had been sitting there for two-and-a-half hours, and no one had stopped. She had called for roadside assistance and was promised a tow truck by 12:00 noon - another two hours from now.
It was wicked cold outside, so I told her to stay in the car while I put on her spare. I don't think that I ever changed a tire as fast as I did that day.
She was ready to go in no time. She thanked me and then handed me her phone. Her mom was still on the line. Her mom couldn't believe that there was still someone in the world that would stop and help, purely as a random act of kindness. I told her that I had to stop, because I could.
Jesus said that we are to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. Salt brings out the best flavor in everything that it touches, and at the same time, acts as a preservative to keep things from spoiling. Light takes away the darkness. We turn on a light so that we can see. And, in the same way, these random acts of kindness should shine out for all to see, so that everyone will give praise to our Heavenly Father.
How many people drove past that young woman? Three lanes of highway traveling at 55 miles an hour for two-and-a-half hours - it was tens of thousands. How many were Christians? How many, just like me, convinced themselves that there wasn't anything that they could do, or that help was on its way? I'm not saying that there is something that we can do in every situation, but if we can do something, than we should do something.
Since this incident back in December 2009, I have made it a point to be more aware of my surroundings, of people in need, of lives that I can touch and give glory to our Heavenly Father.
My challenge to you is to do the same. As Dr. Hale said, I can't do everything, but I can do something. And, I will not refuse to do something that I can do." So, find something that you can do and do it. It may be just a smile and a hello, or an offer to help carry a package. We are so pre-programmed to ignore and avoid getting involved that just simply acknowledging a person is all that they are looking for. Whatever it may be, just one simple act of kindness, might be the first of a thousand steps that will lead a person to Christ. Let Christ's light shine through your action and see what happens from there. And just as easily as it may be the first step, it might also be the last... and, a soul is saved.
If you do touch a life in some way, please let me know.
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