Simple Acts of Kindness: Tangible Ways to Love your Neighbor

And before everything, have a severe love for each other,

for love covers a multitude of sins. - 1 Peter 4:8

I met Greg on a Saturday. My friend Kelley and I had just shared a meal, and as we walked out of the restaurant we had to wait in line, as there was some congestion in the doorway.

As we got closer to the door, we saw a man lying on the pavement. His legs sprawled across one half of the double doors, his torso across the other. We watched as several people coming in stepped over the man, and waited patiently for those in front of us to exit the same way.

When we reached him I knelt to talk to him, and it was suddenly clear that he was not drunk, he was not being dramatic to seek attention. He was seriously ill. He had lost control of his bodily functions, and his clothes were soiled. He was shaking uncontrollably and was unable to move.

We were able to feed him and get him to a warm place. Greg tried to converse with us, but his words were murmured and took great effort. We comprehended few of them, but the one that we were able to understand clearly was cancer, cancer, cancer.

We offered to take him to a hospital or a shelter, but he adamantly refused. After prayer and broken conversation he insisted there was nothing more that we could do, so we left him.

For the next several weeks I searched for Greg, but never found him. Several months later, as I watched my grandmother's body become ravaged by cancer, I witnessed in her the same physical signs that I saw in Greg the days and hours leading to her death. And I can't help but wonder, did we leave Greg alone to die? I wondered if, even against his wishes, I should have done more.

I have many more stories like this, and I am sure you have them too...those moments in life where  you wish you could turn back time and do more.

I think that most of us have a sincere desire to be the hands of feet of Christ in situations like these, and in our everyday lives.

I know I want to be love to those around me, but busyness, discomfort, and being overwhelmed by the amount of hurt in this world often stand in my way.

This week I will be starting a series titled Simple Acts of Kindness: Tangible Ways to Love your Neighbor.

Myself along with several guests will be sharing ideas, stories, and inspirations in loving better, through simple acts.

Simple doesn't mean convenient, comfortable, and safe.

Simple means straightforward, transparent, and uncomplicated.

My goal is that through this series we will gain more confidence that we are able to do more, we are able to love better, and that we will be more intentional in doing so.

I hope you will join me on this journey.