Thankful for the Weird Things

            I really struggled with how I should go about this one. I didn’t want this post to be the typical “I’m thankful for God, my family, and my friends” thing everyone would expect*. Not that anything is wrong with that… but I want something unique! Here are several weird and unusual things I’m thankful for. If you asked me why I'm thankful for some of these, I probably wouldn’t be able to tell you:

1) When I’m driving and the window fogs up suddenly. I don’t know why, but I’ve always found that funny.

2) When a friend of mine I haven’t seen in a couple years completely surprises me by visiting and we sing “Puttin’ on the Ritz” in my car. That happened this morning. Side note: the music video for that song is really weird. 

3) When I have a pile of clean clothes I have to put up in my closet or dresser. I don’t know why, but I actually enjoy putting away clothes. My mom must’ve brainwashed me or something.

4) Those moments when you tell a joke and your friends PRETEND it isn’t funny… but you know they are dying of laughter inside; they just don’t want to show it.

5) When a limb of mine falls asleep. I love that feeling.

6) When I’m at church and I have a family member to lay my head on so I can pretend I’m listening to the sermon.

7) When I say something really, really obvious and/or stupid. I realize it, and look at my friend. My friend pauses…. knowing he or she can nail me with the classic “DUH, genius” or “really, you just realized that?” line. And he or she lets it slide. I’m always thankful for those moments. I hate “duh”s. They make me feel like an idiot. I appreciate their tolerance for my dumb-ness.

            There are tons and tons of little things like these in my life that I’m thankful for. They just spice everything up! Spend some time and think of all the odd little things you are thankful for. It’s a lot of fun! This post has been a blast to write. Or, and here's one more:

8) When I hit "publish" when I'm done writing a post. Knowing that maybe I can make someone smile, cry, or do something in between. Knowing that there are some people in the world who actually care about my thoughts enough to waste three minutes of their life reading them. Thank you.

*I am very, extremely thankful for God. He is everything to me. I’m thankful for my family because they are the only 5 people on this planet who have been with me through everything. And I love my friends. They’ve given me so many memories. I’m so glad they put up with me!

Just a Thought

            Right now I am sick. This morning I woke up with a horribly scratchy throat, a voice that sounds like a bass guitar, a Niagara Falls nose (don’t spend too much time thinking about that), and a cough to wake the dead. It’s not very much fun. I wasn’t meant to live life like this. 

            But as I’ve gone on with my day… I’ve gotten used to it. It’s not abnormal anymore, and I don’t think twice before unwrapping a Hall’s or grabbing a tissue. It’s just me and my life.

            I know in the back of my mind what my body is going though is not normal. I shouldn’t be like this. But what I know in my mind doesn’t change the reality that I am sick and have to adjust accordingly.

            I look at the world and realize it’s the same way. Our world is sick. The symptoms are hunger, crime, disease, death, and pain in general. But we’ve gotten used to it, really. A hundred people slaughtered? We yawn. 50 people dead of a disease outbreak? We ask, “Is that it?”

            You get the point. 

            It’s so important for us to be able to look at our world and realize THIS IS NOT HOW THINGS SHOULD BE. Our world did not start like this, and this sickness will pass one day. The horrific things we witness are symptoms of an underlying cause: a cursed world.

            One day Jesus will come back and reign. Our world will become new again, and so will the people in it. 

            In the day to day grind, it’s hard to maintain perspective. Being able to step outside of it all and hold on to truths like this is very important. If I didn’t know there was hope for this world, I would literally go insane because everyone is suffering for no reason.

            But we are not. There will come a day when everything is going to change. 

That Day

            As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized more and more just how powerful words are. As a result, I’ve written many posts about what words can do. You might be sick of reading about the capabilities of palabras.

            Suck it up, buttercup, cuz this is another post about words.

            Have you noticed how some people change the atmosphere of a room as soon as they walk in? They come in and everyone is either like, "Awesome!” or “Oh boy… brace yourselves”. There is a chance this reaction has to deal with the person’s disposition.

            What about you? When you walk into a situation, are people like, “Yay! Things just got better” or are they saying, “Oh great, here so-and-so is”?

            The answer most likely lies in how you talk to people. That may seem like a “duh” statement, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is true. Do you bring energy and positivity to other people? Or do you bring just the perfect balance of Scrooge and the Grinch?

            If the answer is the latter, there is still hope for you. Just look around and say something nice to someone. Blow their socks off. Make their day. Once you’ve done that, you’ll find that you like being nice to people. And you won’t stop.

            It’ll get to the point where people will want to walk up to you because they know you have something great to say to them. Won’t that be the day?

Let Em Know

            Think through situations involving many people. School, work, teams, home, etc. There are those people who get the praise when things go correctly and the blame when they don’t. These people are in the front. They're the face of the operation, and they get all the recognition. All the focus is on them.

            But I’ve been thinking about that. They don’t actually determine whether or not the entire unit is successful. Oh, they are important in providing direction and executing in-the-moment leadership, but it’s far from a one-man-show. There are other people involved.

             You sometimes see these other people, but you don’t give them a second thought. They are the behind-the-scenes workers. They do the moving and organizing. They do the renovating. They do the hard work, and they don’t demand attention.

             Without these people, life doesn’t get done. There would be no cameramen to record the pretty politicians. There would be no builders to build the mansions shown on MTV.

             These people are amazingly talented and hard-working, and don’t get half the credit they deserve. Do you know anyone that fits this description? Let them know you notice their contribution, and you are thankful for everything they do.

              They still won’t get the attention they deserve, but they’ll know they matter. They’ll know you care.

Super Average

            Sometimes I get stuck in what I call tunnel vision. I wake up, live a normal day, go to sleep. Wake up, repeat. Day in, day out. Week in, week out. Month in, month out.

            Am I doing any good? Am I making something of myself? Does my life matter?

            I’m somewhat of a self-critical guy, so I often say, “Uh, no. At least, it doesn’t look like it.” I’m not changing the world. School is… school. My friends go through tough times and I can’t help them as much as I’d like to. Customers come to my workplace (Arby’s) unhappy and leave unhappy and I can’t do anything about it.

            Tunnel vision stinks. What is the meaning of the day-to-day grind? Why am I here?

            Recently during a normal day at work we were slammed by an unexpected rush. Both drive-thru and lobby were jammed with customers. I was busy taking orders from the drive-thru, making drinks, and making shakes. If my coworker manning the register was gone, I also had to take money, assemble the orders, and hand out food.

            In short, I was very busy and a little stressed.

            In the middle of this 45 minute period, a woman came to the speaker crying. Everyone with a drive-thru headset could hear her sobbing. We all paused, wondering if we were hearing correctly.

            No matter, we had to keep moving. Order in, order out, life must go on. I quickly forget her after I send in her order*.

            Then she gets to the window. My coworker was gone, so I took her money. Her face was red and she was clearly in some type of pain. She kept apologizing and I reassured her that she was fine. I handed her credit card back and she broke out crying again.

            I asked her if everything was fine, and she just shook her head as she cried. I paused. I had my manager right in back of me, uh, encouraging me to keep the drive-thru time down. Her food was ready; he said she needed to go.

            I asked her if I could pray for her. She nodded and said, “Please pray for me.” So I prayed for her right then and there.

            Now, it was admittedly a clumsy prayer. I didn’t know what to pray for exactly. I didn’t know if it should be an upbeat prayer, or one that was more solemn. Simply, I didn’t know what to say.

            So there I was in a drive-thru in the midst of a jammed dinner rush praying for a crying stranger for 15 seconds with an unhappy manager breathing down my back. It was surreal.

            I handed her her food and she left. I continued with the orders and everything else. I knew I’d probably never see her again. I don’t know what she is going through. I don’t know if my prayer helped her any.

            Why did I share this? Just for encouragement. I don’t know how much of an impact I have. Sometimes I don’t know what my life will amount to. I’m just a high school kid with a fast food job. I’m pretty average right now.

            But knowing that God can still use me is inspiring. He put me in the right place at the right time for someone. I won’t know if what I did had any effect, but the fact that I can still do something in my pretty normal situation is encouraging.

            What about you? Is the daily grind getting you down? Are you wondering what impact you are having? Just know that God has you right where He wants you, and that there will be opportunities to help others. Keep your eyes open and stay positive. If a friend is feeling down, be their bright spot. If a sibling, spouse, or child isn’t having the best day, let them know you are there for them.

            You might be average like me, but you can be super average.

*A roasted turkey, ranch, and bacon wrap. It tells me something that I remembered that.

Lord and Savior

            I was thinking about my faith recently. I had just finished whining about something minor in my life. I had just finished worrying about a test. I had just finished being in a bad mood about something or another.

            I symbolically took my faith in my hands and looked at it. What in the world is the use of my relationship with Jesus if I don’t TRUST Him?

            I can answer my own rhetorical question. My faith isn’t worth very much. Jesus didn’t become Lord of my life to have me worry about what He controls.

            I guess the whole point of this post is for you and me to evaluate our relationship with God. Do we trust Him to do what He says He’ll do? So maybe life is falling in around you. Your friends are driving you crazy and your car decided to break down. That’s when you realize how much your faith means to you.

            Let Him do His thing. He’ll work everything out, just relax and fall in His arms. Jesus has taken care of many before us, and will take care of many after us. He’s done this “Lord and Savior” thing before, you know.

Take a Stand

            One of my favorite superheroes is Superman. Besides being pure awesomeness, he has a sign that stands for something I hold very tightly to: hope. No, the “S” does not mean “Superman”, but something much bigger.

            I’ve always been enamored with hope. Something about what it represents just grabs me. I’ve been thinking about it. Why does hope matter so much to me?

            I realize it’s because hope is everything my life stands for. Why I’m here. What I’m supposed to bring. Who I try to serve.

            I’m a Christian. I represent a kingdom that hasn’t come in all its glory quite yet. I hope to be here when it arrives.

            I’m a Christian. I serve a King who made the Universe. He’s coming to reign and make everything perfect again.

            I’m a Christian. I’m here to bring the good news of my King’s return. I’m to tell people how they can enter that kingdom.

            I’m a Christian. I model a man who wasn’t just a man. I model a man who is the way, the life, and the truth. I mirror His image and how He lived. At least I try to.

            I’m a Christian. I stand for hope.

Look Around

            One of my favorite things I tell people to do is look around. This world is hopeless. Wars, rumors of wars, hunger, disease, narcissism, theft, murder. It needs hope.

            We can be the world’s hope. When people look at us and see the joy we have, they’ll wonder what’s up. "What is in you that makes you like that?" "What do you have that I don’t?" This and more will be running through their minds as they contemplate going through another day in their currently worthless life.

            As Christians, we know the world we live in isn’t it. There’s a better one coming, and we live for it. We grind for a nation that will soon rule, and won’t ever pass.

            So how can you be hope? If you have troubled friends, come alongside them and tell them it’s going to be okay. You are here for them because Jesus is here for you.

            Be encouraging. Don’t leave compliments unsaid; you’ll never know when they might make someone’s day.

            Be cheerful. Unless you have a reason to be down, stay upbeat! The energy you bring to your surroundings is needed, believe me.

            Be there. People just want to know someone cares for them. Let those around you know that you are always there if they want to talk.

            You can change your corner of the world. If enough people change their situation, we’ll have a changed world. I don’t know about you, but that’s something to hope for.

Flying in New Chains

            I was talking to a friend the other day about how a person should go about living his life. He told me, “Yeah, I know about all that God stuff. I know you actually live how you’re supposed to. But if I live like you, I can’t do what I want. It’s restricting.”

            I thought about what he said. He’s absolutely right. Living for God is extremely restricting.

            Then I compared him to me a few years ago. I was at a cross roads in my life. I was tired of doing the church thing. I was a good kid. I got good grades. I was good at sports. I was good at life. I was good at being a Christian, you could say.

            And I was tired of it all. It was just empty.

            I looked around and thirsted for something that actually mattered. I wanted purpose and meaning. I realized that the only place I hadn’t looked was up.

            So I made a deal with God. “Lord, make my life matter. Make me into something that has some value, because living to live is worthless. Living to go through the motions is so empty. I don’t want to act at being a Christian. I want to live life with a fire.”

            God pointed me to Himself. As our Creator, He made us with instructions. Only if we follow them will our lives be successful. But we never do.

            Would you use a lawnmower to cut a birthday cake? Of course not. Then why do we use our bodies and our talents and our time to live for ourselves? Those were not their purposes. And we wonder why we wander aimlessly.
             We aren’t following the directions. We aren’t living the reason we are on this earth.

Back to My Friend

             As I was listening to my friend, this came to me. As God has been molding me, He has restricted me. I’m not going to lie. I can’t do everything everyone else does.

             It’s been the most freeing thing I’ve ever experienced.

             Because, while God has closed the door to the world’s pleasures, He has opened up His. It’s like going from baby food to steak.

             Endless cycles of empty relationships? No. Harmful sexual intimacy before marriage? No. Drugs? No. Living for the next high? No.

             But does anything better replace these things? The answer is yes. A burning passion for life? Yes. Impacting your world? Yes. Helping others and making a difference wherever you are? Yes. A joy and a peace and a purpose? Yes. A deep love for God and those around you? Yes.

             The world dangles play toys in front of us to hold us back. To keep us from living greater. These “kid’s meal” toys are holding my friend back because he can’t see the better life God has for him.

             God has His arms open. When you come to Him fully, completely, He’s there to hold you. He gives you what you need. He’ll give you a life greater than what you had in store for yourself.

             God does restrict you from living an empty life. But these restrictions lead you to turn to Him. Once you do that and let this world go, that’s all she wrote.

              It’s a wild ride. Get started and hang on.

When the Sun Don't Shine

             Right now it’s raining outside. I like the rain. I thought about that. Why in the world do I like the rain? I’ve never really thought about it before.

             I think it’s the same reason I like mornings. It’s a fresh start. When the rain stops and the clouds fade, the sun comes out and everything feels warm again. Leaves glisten and shine. People smile and everyone wakes up a little.

             So when it’s raining and I look up, I know something better is coming. It’s not here yet. I don’t even know when it’s going to happen. But I know better times are around the corner. The sun is still there, even when I can’t see it.

             Every time I move away, it’s like that. I don’t know all the answers. I don’t know why I have to leave the friends I’ve made. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know anything, really, and it’s hard. My life’s raining.

             But I know the sun is still there. I know there’s going to be a fresh start. It’s gonna be okay. I just have to believe that.

             It can be the same for you. Maybe’s life’s raining, and you don’t have the answers. But you can hope for the best and live your best.

Like the Cool Kids

            I tell you what, songs are the greatest things in the world for inspiration. They’ve given me several things to write about, and Echosmith’s song “Cool Kids” has given me another.

            “I wish I could be like the cool kids,

            ‘Cause all the cool kids, they seem to fit in.

            I wish I could be like the cool kids, like the cool kids.”

            So goes the chorus. And I was contemplating why this song resonated inside of me, the words “self-worth” came to mind.

            There is no escaping it. God created us to be drawn towards the attractive, because it hints at something deeper. God created us perfect, and the more attractive someone is, the closer that person is to outward perfection. Which is closer to how God created us originally. That’s why we are drawn towards the athletic, beautiful, humorous, brilliant, talented, and charming people among us.

             That’s why people who are any combination of those things don’t have trouble finding their group… which is mostly comprised of others like themselves. Everyone else is left on the outside.

             And if you pause there, absolutely nothing is wrong. The attractive (the cool) hang out with themselves and everyone else forms their own groups. Nothing is wrong with that… until we confuse attractiveness (coolness) with worth and value. That’s where the destruction begins.

             You see, there are other people more attractive than you or me. I look around and I see guys who are better-looking, funnier, more athletic, smarter, and more charming. It may be the same for you. The sooner we come to grips with that reality, the better. But that doesn’t mean they are worth more than you or me. It doesn’t mean they are better people.

             No, because all mankind is worth the same before God. We were made in His image (Genesis 1:27), and He loves us (John 3:16). Those two things give us our worth. The fact that we have a little of God’s mind and personality in us, and the fact that the Creator of the galaxies cares for us deeply.

             Nothing’s wrong with being one of the cool kids. Nothing’s wrong with not being one of the cool kids. I’m no more valuable than the aborted child that never was given a chance. The aborted child is no more important than the few mega-rich individuals that run the world. And the mega-rich are no more important than the cool kids that you want to be.

            Because, before the glory and holiness of our Maker, all the petty differences that give us our social status fades away. We are all sinners in need of a Savior, and we all bare the mark of His touch.

            So maybe you are a cool kid. That’s great. Maybe you aren’t. That’s great. We are all equal in worth. Our social status does not determine our eternity, which is the only thing we should care about anyways.

Back When I Was Her Age…

             Recently I had the privilege of being able to give advice to a friend who had her 9th birthday. She is going to be something special in the future. Things are definitely looking up for her. So what did I say?

             I told her to stay in the moment and appreciate it. I remembered when I was her age. I couldn’t wait to grow up. I was going to get my license and get MUSCLES (woo-hoo, I was gonna impress the ladies). I was going to be important and make important decisions. 

             Oh yeeeaahhhhhh… about that. I got my license. I still don’t have muscles. I guess I’m making important decisions now… but it’s not overly amazing to do so. And I’m still not very important. So you see, there isn’t a whole lot to growing up, so appreciate the present.

             You’ll grow up whether you want to or not. But you can never stay the age you are now, so learn to love it. Recognize it as fleeting. Hold on to it while you can.

             I was going to end with that, but her mom suggested I continue using my blog. And that’s just what I’m doing now.

More Advice for the 9-Year-Olds of the World

            It will get better with siblings! Especially if you are the oldest. Your brothers will get less annoying and your sisters will acquire a fashion sense that includes other colors besides pink. Lord willing.

            But you need to work on developing relationships with your family NOW. If you shut yourself off now, don’t expect to suddenly be best friends with them once your teenage years start and you need shoulders to cry on. Spend time with your family and get to know them.

            Also, understand your parents aren’t perfect. Now, before you go to your parents in triumph and repeat this fact, understand also that you aren’t perfect, either. Everyone is learning in life, including them.

            Also remember that your parents love you dearly and want what’s best for you. So in the future, when you argue over curfews and rights and what you should be able to do and who that special someone is (“but dadddddd, he’s only murdered a couple people! I love him!”), keep this in mind. In the end, your parents will still be there for you when no one else is.

            I guess I could continue, but this is enough. Just remember that you are only this young for so long, and don’t wish to grow up too soon. But it’s never too young to set yourself up for a great next few years. You can both hold on to the present AND mature as a person. This goes for any age.

We Deserve

            As I was reading Psalm 21, I was humming along … until I got to verse four. Instantly tears came to my eyes. I became very emotional and I didn’t know why. So I read and reread it trying to figure out what was up. Here it is (David is the “he”, and God is the “thee/thou”):

            “He asked life of thee,  and thou gavest it (to) him, even length of days for ever and ever” (KJV).

            Eventually I came to understand that my feeling was one of thankfulness.

            David “only” asked God for life. God said, “You know what? I’m going to give you eternity.” When we cry out for Jesus to “just” save us, He says, “You know what? I’m not only going to forgive your rebellion against me, I’m going to give you an everlasting future of complete and utter joy with Me.”

            This was confirmed by the verses around that one. God goes above and beyond to give us all amazing lives. Why? I don’t know; all I can say is that He loves me. I haven’t done anything for Him.

            So go around and think about that one. Not “only” has God forgiven you, He’s given you so much more. Friends, family, houses, cars, education, EVERYTHING. Look at your life and realize how blessed we are. It’s more than we deserve.

Work Hard, Enjoy Harder

            As I am going back over my previous posts, I realize something. I’ve been sad as I’ve written some of them, so they’ve been downright gloomy. That’s not very fun, is it?

            So this post is going to be a change-up. My advice to you? Party hard, because the Bible says so.

            Say whaaaaat?

When a Wise Man Tells You to Party…

            Solomon writes: “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God” (Ecclesiastes 2:24, KJV).

            In case you miss the memo, he writes basically the same thing in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, 5:18-19, and 8:15. Solomon writes that we need to have a good time and enjoy the results of our life.

            We all work in some way. We work at or for our jobs, our schools, our sports teams, our families, and our other relationships. Our lives are work from when we are born till the day we die.

            Do you enjoy the fruits of your work? Do you celebrate the successes in your life? Or do you either focus on your failures or look ahead to the next thing you have to do?

            Stop and smell the roses. Enjoy yourself. Look around and appreciate everything you’ve fought hard for. Think "Wherever We Go" by the Newsboys.

            Did you get a good score on a test? Celebrate! Did you have a successful work day? Celebrate! Is a particular friendship unusually strong at the moment? Go out and have fun. Are you tight with someone in your family after previous hardships? Enjoy it.

            Do you enjoy the good of your labour? God wants you to. Work can be drudgery, so notice the small victories. Make memories. Don’t look back at the end of your life and wish you would've enjoyed it more.

            When the wisest man of all time tells you to party, it’s best to listen to him.

You Know What?

            You know what? Life is depressing. People are dying. Kids are being killed by wackos. Weird diseases are wreaking havoc. Divorce rates are at 50% (!). People are unhappy. People are depressed. Life is gloomy.

            And that makes me sad.

            But then the other day I received a very nice compliment. And you know what? It was amazing. I was floating. Life was great. I was happy.

            Hmmm.

            So recently I thought about the contrast. Was a kind word enough to combat all the world’s mess? Did it somehow make the world a better place? No… kids are still dying and divorce rates are still about 50% higher than they should be.

            Then what’s up? What’s up, my friends, is the power of words. In the midst of a negative world, people are dying to hear that they are doing something right. That they matter. That something they do or some quality they have is good in a bad world.

            Contrary to what some think, people desperately care what others think of them. Often this is damaging (the world is negative, remember), but this can be used for good.

            So look around. LOOK AROUND. There are people everywhere in need of a kind word. Maybe it’s a family member or a friend. Maybe it’s a stranger.

            Ladies and gentlemen, words are powerful. They start wars. They end lives. But you know what? They can make a difference for good. They can start dreams. They can save lives. They can spread happiness throughout a dark world.

            Words are weapons or tools. Let’s build up others. Let’s let the sun through. But watch out, things will get a little brighter.

To Burn or Build

            At my new job, I have some awesome coworkers. Quick to help and always patient, they don’t make me dread my upcoming shift. Recently, I’ve relearned that kind people can make your life wonderful, and mean people can make it miserable.

            As I was thinking about what to write today, this contrast came to mind. Am I in the former camp, or the latter? When I enter a situation, do people want to leave or work with me? Proverbs talks about this in 25:24:

            “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” (NIV)

            Ouch. Now, I’m not saying I’m a wife (:p), but the truth behind this verse applies to me, too. When I’m snappy and biting I’m sure people want to take off for the hills. But wait, there’s more in 16:27:

            “A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like a scorching fire.” (NASB)

            Whoa, a scorching fire*, eh? I’ve experienced that from others and myself. Sometimes you spew words and it feels like pure venom. It’s one of those “I-wish-I-could-rewind-but-I-can’t-and-now-I-just-destroyed-you” things. When someone does it to me, I just want to shrink and disappear. Not a fun feeling.

            When we talk to people, regardless of our mood, do we make them wish they didn’t exist? Do we devastate others and then later excuse it because of our mood? Contrast that to how our words should be (Proverbs 25:11**):

            “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

            Yes, that may be poetry, but the truth is that a correct word choice is beautiful. Proper words are awe-inspiring regardless of the message. It’s presentation is superb, and people want more or it. Proverbs 16:24 states:

            “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (NIV)

            Are we full of crushing and biting remarks? Do we mock others***? Or are our words soothing and full of grace? When people mess up, are they afraid to come to us for fear of our wrath? Do they fear our sarcastic tear-downs?

            As Christians, we are called to take the high road. To forgive, to talk with grace. As a chronic failure in this area, I know I need forgiveness and grace. But we can grow together and look towards the day when our words will destroy no more.

*Read James chapter 3 to learn more about how dangerous words can be. Yeah, they can be very dangerous.

**If you couldn’t tell yet, Proverbs is great for learning about how to live. It’s full of tips and wisdom. On a side note, too bad its author (Solomon) didn’t follow some of his own advice…

***Coincidentally, I was listening to “Something You Said” by Insufficient Funds on Pandora. Among other things, it talk about a man who verbally abused his wife and she goes and commits suicide… cheerful stuff.

RAK

            My third and final MAJOR thought I came away from the missions’ trip was that people are curious/suspicious of free.

            Now, I don’t mean the type of free that isn’t really free because of a few strings attached that will come back and bite the person later kind of free. No, I mean literally free.

            One thing I learned about New Yorkers is that they are suspicious of everything and everyone. I personally believe that all Americans can be like that; however, this trait is particularly noticeable in New York.

            A few friends and I went to a street corner and started handing out free coffee and free water. Literally. Now, you would expect lines wrapping around the city full of people who really wanted some free stuff, right? Right?

            Just kidding. People would stare at us like we were aliens. Someone even remarked, “You guys must’ve poisoned that stuff.” People generally ignored us.

            Let me back up a little. The focus of this post wasn’t on those poor mislead (suspicious) people, or even on the American trait of being suspicious of everything. That was more of an observation.

            No, the focus of this post is on the few (curious) people who did stop. Some cocked their heads. Some smiled. They would ask, “What is this all about?” while we would respond, “Nothing much, just serving the community.”

            Random acts of kindness (RAK). That gets to people in a way that nothing else will. We could’ve been doing ANYTHING other than standing out there in the (relative) cold, handing out free stuff. We were being nice for no other reason than wanting to love those around us.

            This should be the mark of the Church as a whole and of the Christian as an individual. Picking up litter, helping nursing homes, ministering to those whom the majority ignores. The Church can and should be a leader in this area.

            Random acts of kindness can break through the hardest of hearts. As someone who is theologically/philosophically minded, that can be hard to admit. While the truth affects some, love affects all*.

            When was the last time you did something nice for someone for no real** reason at all?

*Now, this love will spur people to find out about the truth behind it. However, as an introduction to Christianity, love (RAK) often is more effective than a philosophical conversation.

**By real, I mean with no personal agenda behind it.