It's the Little Things
A quick look at the graphic above might put you on alert and guess this is some kind of political screed. Fear not and read on…
One year while teaching at Bend High, 147 years ago, I decided to ride my recumbent bike to school every day. We then lived out east of town, some six miles from BHS and the commute had its wonders, like spring smells of fresh growth, or mist rising off mowed hay fields, or stunning alpenglow mornings where I stopped and just marveled at how the mountains gleamed before sunup came to the lands below. However it also had its challenges. The winter months ushered in plenty of dark, dang cold, snowy, icy and occasionally downright scary rides.
My room was at the end of B Hall (soon to be demolished in the big school remodel) and my next door teaching neighbor got to school early, like me. On the days he beat me in, without saying anything, he made it a practiced routine to crack open the outside door and swing wide my class door so I could just wheel right into the room where I kept the bike.
It was a little thing, and when I thanked him he brushed it off with a “no problem” and we went on our way. But I have not forgotten those small acts of kindness all these years later.
Big, splashy efforts capture attention, but wouldn’t you agree that it’s the little things, done without fanfare, we remember and that touch our hearts? From childhood or school days or marriage or with kids, memories of small kindnesses scatter like glitter on the gray pavement of any given day and these little things unexpectantly sparkle.
Let me give you an example. If you have never heard of this young guy, Sam Demma, take a listen.
Opening doors, blowing snow, taking in the garbage can next door, cleaning your mess at the fast food joint, expressing thanks, tipping well, making room in traffic, and a thousand other little things done just to be kind and not for reward or awards or even recognition.
Nearly 400 times terms translated “kind” or “kindness” are seen in the Bible. The usual Older Testament Hebrew term is chesed, which is used both of God to his creation and talks of a loyal love in action, as well as to his people called to mimic him. In the Newer Testament variations of the Greek word chrestos have the same intent with kindness linked to goodness, benevolence, and active love.
It sure seems like a big thing to God to remind his kids to be kind. And the “why” behind the “what” must be that it is so easy to be otherwise.
Life is hard and often harsh, and the most natural response is to return the same, like one of those pitching trampolines you might have had as a kid. Throw hard and the ball came back hard, throw harder and the same in return…until you took one in the kisser.
Here are three verses in the OT that speak strongly to kindness.
Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another. Zechariah 7:9
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21
Zeroing in on kindness in these verses, it’s helpful and instructive to notice the active word preceding that term.
Zechariah says to SHOW kindness. We can take from that kindness must go beyond just an intention and to an action that can be seen or benefitted from. Off your sit bones and into motion, love for others is to be done by saying the words and doing the deeds.
Micah calls for those wanting to be in synch with God’s desires to LOVE kindness. Asking God to plant his heart for others into yours is a good start. And like any love, this grows as it goes. To love means to cherish, protect, expand its object.
And Solomon counsels God’s people to PURSUE kindness. Almost as though opportunities are easily passed by, with intention we are called to chase down chances and capture them, one small move at a time. This is being on the lookout for the next chance to be kind.
When it comes to us being kind, think of these words: Show, Love, Pursue. Now, that’s not a bad game plan for any believer intent on living our faith-life out loud.
It’s too easy to unhitch righteousness and justice from kindness, but the book says they are linked. You and I, as we claim to be followers of Jesus, cannot afford to slice up what we like and dislike in regard to God’s intentions. It seems like Christians these days are just itching for a fight, and culture wars take few prisoners but leave plenty of wounded on the ground.
Here’s a task to consider: Google “kindness” in the Bible and read some of the OT and NT references. You will find we are challenged to be kind to friends and family but also to the stranger on the street or the foreigner looking for refuge, the poor and the overlooked. In an “us vs them” landscape where every disagreement or any slight is a call to battle, a little kindness goes a long way.
And trust me, it will not always be welcomed. Be kind, anyway.
So, friend, the simple take-away to this note is to pray for eyes to see opportunities to do the next kind little thing, then do it. And never doubt that down the road some other will remember what you did, like an opened door to a chilled biker, and be moved to do the same.
And what better time to do this than this week of Thanksgiving. Let’s make our corner of America…a bit kinder again.
Music Time
Jokes? We got em
While at the movies recently, I couldn’t hear the dialogue over the chatter of the two people sitting in front of me.
Finally I tapped one of them on the shoulder. “Excuse me,” I said, “I can’t hear.”
“I should hope not! This is a private conversation.”
****************
CAFFEINE PRAYER
Caffeine is my shepherd, I shall not doze.
It maketh me to wake in green pastures.
It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.
It restoreth my buzz.
It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction, I will fear no Equal (tm).
For thou art with me; thy cream and thy sugar they comfort me.
Thou preparest a carafe before me in the presence of Starbucks.
Thou anointest my day with pep; my mug runneth over.
Surely richness and taste shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of Dutch forever.