“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”
~Henry James

A particular obituary in last week’s newspaper has been haunting me. It is an occupational hazard, I believe, to peruse the obituary section of the paper with greater attention than may be necessary. More than once I have learned the news of a church member or former one who has passed from this life and whose family had not let the church know. It is always a sad and troubling experience. Invisible lines of connection are tenuous.

But the photo and name of the troubling passing was not anyone from our faith community or anyone I know. It was the news of the death of a young man, nineteen years old, whose notice declared in the first words that he had died of an accidental overdose. His sweet, young, open face looked back at me from the black and white pages. I tried to imagine his parents grief, their pain at losing this beloved child. I tried to imagine all the experiences that had brought him to such a tragic death. My heart broke for him and for his family and I sent prayers toward them.

This young man’s obituary ended with the words…The family wishes you to take the time to do a random act of kindness on behalf of Tracy today! In writing this, the family had even chosen to use an exclamation point. Reading it I felt not only deep grief for this family but also those invisible lines of connection grow stronger. Somehow I could do something for this family, something to help them honor their child’s young life. I could do something kind.

It seems kindness is often in short supply in our world. We move at warp speed through our days trying to accomplish task after task after task. I know I often forget to even make eye contact with those I meet much less remember to offer kindness. And yet when I reflect on the gifts of any day, it is often the acts of kindness that have come my way that stand out. It is the moments when those invisible lines of human connection quiver with gentleness, sweet words, an unexpected act of generosity, that make all the rest of the flurry of activity fall into perspective.

Yesterday I spoke with a friend on the phone. She told me that the calendar she uses to guide her days had declared this week ‘random acts of kindness’ week. Sounded like a good plan to me! With the cold we have been experiencing we may have had a tendency to allow our senses to be dulled and the kindness to be wrung out of us. Which is as good a reason as any to dedicate the day to committing at least one random act that will lift someone above the freezing temperatures, above an alienation they may be experiencing or a hurt that is throbbing.

Another reason is because Tracy’s parents asked us to.