Tag Archives: kindness

Focusing on what is most important

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We all know that to live a full and rewarding life, we need to focus on what is most important. And one of the most important is the simple expression of human kindness, even more important than what was on your agenda for the day. A recent news story from Argentina illustrates this:

 

Martin Passeri is a celebrated Argentine surfer who has five times grabbed the top prize in his country’s annual surfing championships. He was considered the favorite for winning this year’s contest too but he sacrificed it for something better: kindness.

 

You see, as the competition was about to begin, Passeri saw Nicolas Gallegos sitting in a wheelchair. Gallegos, a surfing buff, was paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 18 before he could learn to surf. Passeri asked Gallegos if he wanted to surf with him. Upon acceptance, Passeri strapped Gallegos onto his back and the two rode the first wave in together.

 

It isn’t clear whether he was disqualified or whether he took too long to help Gallegos onto the board, but the outcome was that the crowd favorite, Martin Passeri, gave up the championship for an act of human kindness.

 

When asked later, Passeri said he didn’t lose. In fact, he considered that wave the biggest triumph of his career.

 

Kindness is one of the fruits that are naturally produced from a Spirit led life.  Sometimes we’re invited to demonstrate kindness, like when someone asks you for help. Other times, we have to take our focus off our to-do list and pay attention to the needs of those around us and respond with God’s love. Often, the opportunity is fleeting, so be quick. Don’t miss the opportunity to bless and be blessed. When you see a need you can fill, do it. It may be the most important thing you do all day.

 

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

 

What kind of an ambassador are you?

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There has been some opposition to recently appointed ambassadors who appear to be not only unqualified for their jobs but also apathetic toward their duties. It is reported that the new ambassador to Hungary is completely unaware of USA strategic interests there. The new ambassador to Norway seems clueless of that county’s political structure or really anything about the country. In fairness, this may be more common than we think but it is concerning none the less.

An ambassador is a high-ranking person who represents his or her own government while living in another country. Appointed for a special and often for a temporary assignment, it is the role of the ambassador to represent goodwill.

Did you know that you are an ambassador? Paul says we are ambassadors for Christ. One of our primary responsibilities is to represent Jesus while we live in a “foreign country.” The epistles talk repeatedly that we are “aliens” or “foreigners” in a strange land. In other words, this is not our permanent home. 1 John 2 reminds us that we are not to get attached to anything in this world. It will turn us away from our job as ambassadors.

What kind of an ambassador are you? (I ask the same question about myself.) How qualified are we to be good ambassadors for Christ? I know the phrase “He doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. OK, but do our behaviors demonstrate that we are being equipped? Or does our Christ nature shut off when we leave through the physical church doors?

Pastor Chad Roberts started a website to give a place for dialog from service workers who have stories to tell about ‘Christians’ who have belittled and berated them and generally demonstrated bad behavior. You will cringe to read the stories at www.sundaysaretheworst.com but it might also be an eye opener and reminder that we are ambassadors, whether we want to be or not. The website is called “Sundays are the worst” in reference to the number of ‘Christians’ who flock to restaurants after Sunday church service, only to have quickly forgotten who they are when they walk out of church.

Now, I get it that lots of people are rude and demanding. But they all aren’t called to be ambassadors. Christians are.

So here is the question, “What kind of ambassadors are we?” Do our actions, attitudes, and behaviors reflect that we truly follow Jesus? Or do we treat others in the service industry (restaurants, call centers, customer service, hotels) as if they were beneath us? Phil 2:3-4 tells us to put others first and doesn’t exclude people in service jobs. In fact Jesus modeled this when He washed the disciples feet, normally the job of a slave in those days.

Show others there are Christians who care, true ambassadors of Christ who try to live in this foreign land with kindness and goodness. And while you are at it, leave a generous tip!

Finding goodness – Sharing goodness

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We are made for goodness just as we are made to breathe. – John Eldridge

 

The Cedar Rapids Gazette ran a recent article encouraging local folk to share what makes them proud of their city.

My sister shared wrote what happened on Valentine’s Day when our mother had car trouble on First Avenue in Cedar Rapids:
“Within minutes, not one, but two, kind citizens pulled over to help her, moved her car safely out of traffic, and stayed there with her until I could get to mom,” Elizabeth wrote. “They were such a comfort to her rattled nerves. This is a big SMALL town where strangers reach out to help, even during their busy morning commute. And even though it made them late to work. “I’ll take Cedar Rapids any day over a big city,” she wrote.

When we traveled to Bolivia, South America for a month, we lived in the mountain valley town of Cochabamba. With a metropolitan population of 1 million people, it was much noisier than our small town of 15,000. But we both were impressed that it was like coming home for the first time. I thought it funny when people at the local church referred to their sprawling metropolis as a small town. But when we both became so sick someone we hardly knew brought us homemade chicken soup. And when we moved on to Santa Cruz de la Sierra (2-3 million) for additional recuperation, a person we had met just once, also brought us homemade chicken soup and helped us get to an English-speaking doctor.

If you experience such compassion, you will not likely forget it. And if your heart is open, hopefully it encourages you to share that same goodness with others. Goodness is all around us. We only have to stop complaining to see it, exercise our grateful heart to grow, and share that same goodness with others.

There’s nothing quite like celebrating goodness. Let’s reach beyond ‘random’ acts of kindness. Let your actions be purposeful and deliberate. Let your compassion help someone up when they fall, forgive a mistake, and bring a light of truth and encouragement to a dark world.

In good times and tough ones, go light our world with goodness.
May it be said of you…”surely goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6

Path to Peace – Dress for “Success”

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Every day when we get dressed we have a choice of what to wear. Is it going to be hot or cool? Do my activities call for nicer clothes or can I put on something more comfortable? We dress according to the activities and demands of the day.

Before we can bring light into the world we need to have a sense of real peace in our own life. If my life is generally full of fear, intimidation, bitterness, regret, anxiety, anger, etc, what hope do I have of sincerely bringing the light of hope and peace to others? Just like getting dressed, we need to ‘put on’ certain attributes each day. If you’ve ever wished you were more thoughtful, caring, full of grace, the new testament is filled with examples of ‘putting on’ attributes that embed these characteristics in your life and taking off’ things that take away from your quest to live a victorious life. None of us do this perfectly;  those generally known as being patient are sometimes impatient. Those known to be compassionate sometimes are uncaring, maybe even hurtful.  But being intentional about preparing your day to ‘put on’ compassion for example, will lead to the cultivation of a compassionate heart and life.

A practical way to prepare yourself to pursue peace throughout the day is by visualizing “putting on” the character you want to be known for, the character that nurtures peace in your lives and those whose lives you touch. You can reflect on this each morning when you get dressed. As you put on each article of clothes, you can ask God to help you ‘put on’ the ability to:

  • Extend compassion to those you meet today
  • Treat others – and yourself – with kindness
  • Walk in a humble way, not prideful, selfish, or controlling
  • Practice gentleness with others, especially those who are going through a difficult time
  • Be patient with yourself and others.

Here’s to ‘putting on the clothes of peace’ needed to Go Light Your World!

 “…Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12 b