Acts of Random Kindness: I

Beyond attendance at its Solemn Liturgies, we can think of no better way to keep Holy Week than to engage in acts of random kindness.

We are aware of - and have even benefited from - such acts of pure unselfishness; so we will from to time share examples of these on this Blog.

Example 1

Visiting a friend on a college campus one weekend, the visitor became aware of talk within the circle of buddies of how a particular friend had been undergoing certain hardships financially - overpending on beer and pizzas in the first semester, parents reluctant to give more and he to ask for any, a former girlfriend on whom he had lavished a few too many gifts and nights out - and emotionally - the break-up of aforesaid relationship, the realization of term papers due and overdue, worry of exams, of parent reaction to grades, of finding a summer job.

The visitor knew the subject of discussion but slightly, but had always had a very high opinion of him: he had been a leader at his prep school, and both bright and kind amidst the easy glory of those days. The visitor didn't see him in the course of the weekend, but thought of him and his several travails as he took the train home. When he got back he remembered how the smallest encouragement and sign of belief during his own life had meant an enormous amount to him, especially when it had come from a camp counsellor, or a "bigger boy" or the god of the football team.

So he sat down and wrote a long-hand letter to the freshman, saying in a frank but uncloying way that he was sorry to have missed seeing him; that he had heard a little of his situation; that he believed in him absolutely and had always admired his good qualities; and that he hoped the enclosed cheque would help him through the rest of the semester. The cheque was for a few hundred dollars, not so much as to cause embarrassment to the recipient, but enough for the visitor to feel the pinch of his gift.

Very soon after, the visitor received a phone call from the person in question - who told him that he would never realize how much the letter and gift had meant to him: yes, the money was useful as he was down to no cash at all and hadn't known how he might pay for the next two weeks' food; but more, the encouragement and faith shown via the letter had made the young fellow realize his potential, to shake himself out of his depression and to begin to change his slovenly attitudes to his responsibilities.

"How can I pay you back ?" he asked.

"Forget it," came the answer. "It was a gift. If you want to pay me back, work hard and be happy. And some day when you are successful, as you will be, do someone else a kindness."

That example stuck. Today the once-unhappy young man is a major international financial businessman, and his good works, in public benificence as in private kindness, are manifold. He never speaks of the latter; but the recipients of his instinctive kindness do so from time to time. Pay it Forward indeed !