Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
12 20 2023
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle! Acts of Senseless Beauty!
I saw a YouTube video today of a grown man standing at the base of an up escalator holding onto the rail and just watching the steps appear and run upwards. (See link below) A dad and his daughter squeezed by him to take the ride up and looked back to see him just staring at these appearing steps. And then another couple and another couple all looking back at this man who never looked up but was greatly perplexed about taking that step forward and finally one woman stopped. Didn’t say a word, she just took his arm and helped him make that first step. The others who had gone before were still looking back as neither this man nor the woman who helped him said a word. He was clearly mesmerized by this avalanche of emotions. It didn’t show what happened when he arrived at the disappearing stair of the escalator at the top. But I was certain that the woman with this random act of kindness
helped him make that step too.
I was emotional as I watched these people passing him by, when finally, his angel appeared and without hesitation, just took his arm and guided him forward. It was so simple. It was really not much of an ask. But it was monumental for him. Perhaps even life-changing. And it was for me too as I looked on and saw the compassion of a simple random act of kindness to a person in need.
I wondered how many people pass on simple acts of kindness. Pass on just pausing for a moment to consider a simple kindness to another and feel the pain and anxiety of the person in need,
who wasn’t asking, but was clearly in need of something.
Yes, maybe it was a staged event. Maybe some caring person wanted to serve up their random act by choreographing this video to make their point. But it had a serious impact on me to share with you the opportunity of being intentional in your foresight to serve others.
Sometimes that is all people need. Someone to just come alongside without a word being said. Just being there brings comfort and strength that can help them make the next step they were struggling with on their own. We may never know the impact of that simple gesture of mercy and grace.
It typically costs us nothing but the reward is multiplied 100 fold…I promise.
Serve someone… its Christmas. We should be looking for God every day during this season. Look to spread your love abroad. I think that is looking for God! William Wordsworth said “The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.” – Booker T. Washington said, “If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up.” -. “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop.. Anne Herbert published the first known account of “Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Acts of Senseless Beauty” in a CoEvolution Quarterly in 1982.
The truth is everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle than you see or can even imagine. Martin Luther King said, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” –
and “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” –
Caring for others is an act of kindness that will never go out of style. Whether it’s checking in with a friend when they’re down, or simply being there for someone when they need a listening ear, a phone call, or a card or letter. Caring for others is one of the greatest gifts we can give.
Colossians 3:12-13 says “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another” “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” “Give, and it will be given to you”.
Escalator Act of Kindness
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/igj0tfErfSw
