There is no such thing as “Random acts of kindness”
I do respect Oprah and others in popular culture who like the term “random acts of kindness” but they are wrong or at the very least leaving out the process. The act is only part of loving someone. The other part is heart. The saying that hell’s road is paved with good intentions. That leads to another very important and neglected part. Planning.
Our church is doing a campaign called “Got It Covered” and it is a plan that intentionally gives love away to people by simply buying someone’s coffee or meal in line behind you. We made up cards to not say our personal name on them but with a happy smile and our church website and logo.
Often we seem to have two sides to a ministry’s outward focus. We either just tell people stuff–like bullhorn on the corner. Or, we just do stuff for people and tell them nothing–like social activists with no moral compass. Both are wrong. Give me one passage where Jesus himself healed someone and did not do it in person and told of his father? You can’t. Now, he did not let people brag about it. However, he intentionally drew people into his world. This is what Sunridge is attempting to do.
Its not a perfect plan. But, it is a plan. It may not be romantic to put your wife on your calendar but by planning you are putting intent to action. Your heart may feel love, but acting on it with a plan is necessary. In this way, the Got It Covered card helps some of us–albeit imperfectly–to accomplish inviting people to follow Jesus with us at Sunridge.
Now, people can follow Jesus anywhere. Sometimes our own church is not the best place or fit for some. But, that does not mean we cannot invite people to come be a part of something that is life-changing to us–a community that has a name, place and history! A local church!
I had chance to buy a stranger a coffee. There were no strings attached. I did not have to embarrass him. I just gave him a card and said we wanted to make some people smile. I cannot wait to try it again!
For some of you this seems juvenile perhaps. But, be gracious to the masses of us who need something remedial to jump start a habit of doing something for others. Who knows how this can grow our people to bigger ways of giving love away in the name of Jesus. Intention. Plan. Love.
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