Challenge #14: RANDOM

When you give…
Do not sound a trumpet before you…
Do not even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing that your charity may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
(Matthew 6:2-4)

I love the bumper sticker phrase, “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty". Coined by peace activist Anne Herbert, who wrote it on a place mat at a San Fransisco restaurant in 1983, it has inspired people around the world.

It’s contagious… even fun to do. A senseless, random, no-reason-whatsoever gesture that brightens another person’s day!

Or… is there a reason? Too often we unknowingly fall victim to a very subtle form of selfishness in our charity. We give... But we give to feel good. It’s like a drug, only the high is a self-focused high of accomplishment, of being a savior. I have enjoyed the high many times… and only in retrospect have discovered my mistake.

The question is this: what if you helped someone, were kind to someone, loved someone – only they never knew it came from you? Would you still be motivated?

A good friend of mine recently stated his definition of true humility: “True humility is when you help someone else, yet at the same time make them think they helped themself”. His point? Take your self out of the picture.

With that in mind, this particular challenge will be a kind of paradox.

Challenge #14: Do something random. Something kind, and senselessly beautiful! Get creative and think of a random act of kindness. You can be intentional as to who you will bless, or you can choose someone at random. Your random act can be as simple as a kind word, or an act of service. It can be ridiculously complex and orchestrated. Just be intentional!

Here is where the paradox comes in: write about it! While on the one hand your intention is not to draw attention to yourself, to revel in the ecstacy of your self-value, it is, on the other hand, important to somehow share it with people. So I give you this admonition: guard your heart, your intentions… and then share it. I trust that you will do so.

Random kindness: Give a simple card to your janitor expressing appreciation for his work. Go buy a coffee at Starbucks, then pay for the next customer in the drivethrough (have the barista hand that customer a small note that says, “You got blessed”)! Be creative. Be bold. Be sneaky. Be random.

Live it up! Share your love! You only have a few more weeks to live!

For more ideas on your random act, go check out the following website: http://www.actsofkindness.org/


Thursday’s Challenge: TRY