Every once in a while I am pleasantly surprised by the kindness of others. The kindness that indicates some people are concerned about others more than themselves.
Today I had left my car for an oil change and was trying to use my time well as I walked the streets making phone calls that needed to be made this morning. I was actually in the midst of leaving a message for my son on my cell phone when I was walking by a strip mall with a small lawn in front. The lawn care person was mowing the lawn right next to the sidewalk. As I neared the lawn which was being cut, with my phone to my ear, the Lawnmower Man stopped mowing and adjusted the engine to idle.
I was the one who was intruding upon his work. I was the one who walked into his working space. I was really only leaving a message, which could be left later, but he was the one who interrupted his work so there would be no intrusion into my phone call.
I smiled and thanked him, he acknowledged me and when I was further along resumed his work. I wanted to run back to him and thank him for his courtesy, but I didn't. I was reminded through his actions that a random act of kindness can revive our faith in the human race.
I am inspired, again, to look around me wherever I am, whatever I am doing and seek to find ways to show kindness in little ways to others.
This person was living missionally, he showed concern and care for someone he didn't even know, but someone he encounted in his daily live and provided them with a bit of grace in a small, but meaningful way.
I hope to do the same this day.
Praising God for the Lawnmower Man,
Pastor Randy
