I began attending services at Christ Church of Oak Brook back in late November, and have got plugged in there faster than anywhere I've attended so far since back at Willow Creek in the early-mid 1990's. Went out for lunch after the service today, with folks I've met since November. It's still very cold today, as this harsh winter that will not end is doing just that.
Random acts of kindness can make or break a person. Some people are lonely and waiting for someone to reach out. Others are angry, and waiting to be calmed. You can't plan a random act of kindness.
Acts of kindness are not thought highly of in our me-centered and self-indulging culture. In our blind pursuit of elegance and comfort, we have all but forgotten about random kindness. We are in such a rush to get from here to there, we don't have any time for anything other than ourselves. Our technology has only further increased our breakneck speed of life, and we now get angry and impatient with any wait more than a minute, including a download or internet connection. We are an anxious, exhausted, burned out society, more now than anytime in history. We have no time other than our relentless pursuit of more, but more of what? Enough is just not enough, but what are we looking for anyway?
In other countries I have traveled to, time is all they have. Life in Haiti and Africa is devoid of modern technology and convieniences, but people seem to be much more happy and fulfilled than us Americans are. Yes, their life is hard too, but they seem to know how/when to slow down.
This week, take some time to slow down, catch your breath, and choose kindness.
