CREDIT: CHAMPJA / ISTOCK / THINKSTOCK
Acts of kindness can be random, spontaneous and short-lived, but in the end it doesn't matter how they happen, just as long as they do.

A few days ago I was in a talking circle with some teens and twenty-somethings. One person began talking about random acts of kindness.

She mentioned how she and a group of her friends each bought a $10 coffee shop gift card. Each of them then found a person, I think someone living on the streets, maybe borderline homeless, and gave their card to that person. As you can imagine the people who got the cards were really happy to receive them.

This story triggered a memory in another member of our circle. The young woman spoke about seeing a woman hanging out near a café. She was obviously not in the best shape. The young woman asked her if she needed anything. She said, “Just a cup of water.” But the young woman asked quietly if she would rather have a cup of coffee or tea. The two went inside the café where she was able to buy the woman a tea and something to go with it.

As you might expect, the woman told the young woman how grateful she was since she had been warmed up and given something to drink and eat. It seems that, beyond the specific act of kindness, what people who are in need truly appreciate is another human being taking an interest in them.

Another member of the circle talked about how he had received a phone call from a representative of World Vision. He knew at the beginning of the call that there would be a request for funds, possibly to help with a recent catastrophe in the third world. But since he had just reviewed his financial situation and discovered that it was pretty healthy, he couldn’t wait for the request so that he could say, “Yes, I’ll help.”

And that is how he is now the proud sponsor of a child in India. His sponsorship is making it possible for the child to go to school and for the village in which he lives to be improved.

One of the things that Jesus taught was to show kindness to others. In Matthew’s version of Jesus’ life we have these words: “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.” Or, as another translation has it, because the Bible was not originally written in English, Arabic, French, etc., “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full’ you find yourselves cared for.”

In other words, those who show kindness to others can expect kindness in return. This happens, I think, in several ways. First, as it turns out, because of the way God has created the world, including the social world, acts of kindness usually result in more acts of kindness. If you are kind to your friends and to strangers, chances are extremely high that they will be kind to you.

Second, God has a hand in this. How that works is a bit hidden from view. But many people who work at putting the teachings of Jesus into practice feel strongly that God gives them strength to show kindness and that he also actively encourages others to show kindness to them.

Third, there is very likely a future dimension to the expression, “They will be shown mercy.” Somehow, when we die, there will come an encounter with God. One Catholic writer sees it as a moment of profound illumination, revealing ourselves and all we have done. At that moment it will be clear to each one of us whether we are with God and everything that is admirable and good, or not. This includes whether mercy is part of who we are and what we are willing to receive from God, or not.

Acts of kindness can be random, spontaneous and short-lived. But they can also be planned, well prepared and carried out over a long period of time.

The opportunities are limitless. The field is wide open. It can all begin with the next words we say to the person who is about to say hello or to the person with whom you are sharing an apartment. And where the practicing of kindness will take you is anyone’s guess.

But of one thing we can be certain. We will always regret acts of selfishness and anger, or at least we should. But acts of kindness will always bring, blessing, happiness and redemption.
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