Lately I鈥檝e been cleaning out my office. After combing through a quarter-century of published articles and studies, I was ready to toss it all out and forget about saving what I鈥檇 deemed essential. So glad I didn鈥檛 and here鈥檚 why.
This morning, on my routine bus ride, while musing on what would be my theme for this week鈥檚 article. I came up with a vague outline: Making a difference by a simple act of kindness. 聽I tucked that back in my mind as I returned to sorting 鈥渟tuff鈥�. That鈥檚 when I came across a special assignment paper, I鈥檇 written for a writing course I look many years ago. The title? 鈥淗ow one Christian writer can change the world.鈥� Now that鈥檚 one comprehensive topic!
Scanning through, I noted the specific impact individual writers have had on my life and my work. The beauty of disciplines was one; the exposure and taunting of my prejudices, another; and, 鈥渂reathing thoughts of God into my spirit鈥� yet another. I admit I was taken aback by my observations but then returned to my bus-thought.
Next morning, an international student got on the bus with a transfer in hand. The driver politely informed her that it wasn鈥檛 valid. She looked stunned. That鈥檚 when a fellow passenger got up and paid her fare. Her gratitude was immediate.聽
Then later that day I was the recipient of an act of kindness. Waiting in the doctor鈥檚 office for a procedure, I heard that he was running late. With one patient ahead of me, booked for a 30-minute appointment, I said, 鈥淥h, no.聽 It will be dark then and I don鈥檛 drive in the dark.鈥� Without hesitation the lady offered to trade appointments with me.
No sermon speaks so loudly as individual and daily acts of kindness; What can I/you do to change our world?
