Several years ago my daughter’s friend gave me a beautifully bound book written for Christian leaders by one of my favourite authors. I appreciated the gift but since it was not my birthday, or any other occasion that I could think of, I asked her why she had gifted me.
With a nice smile she said, “It’s a random act of kindness Pastor Ross.”
I was touched by the gift, but curious about the expression.
I later discovered that the phrase had originally been coined by Anne Herbert in 1982. She wrote the phrase on a restaurant napkin and the complete statement was, “Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.”
She intentionally wrote the phrase to be the polar opposite of “random acts of violence and senseless acts of cruelty.”
Subsequently, the phrase and its accompanying concept has become quite common. There is a Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, Feb. 17 has been dubbed Random Acts of Kindness Day and numerous lists of suggestions for “RAKs” are available online and in books.
Having recently re-read my gift book, my thoughts were drawn to this matter of random acts of kindness. Having no desire or intention of criticizing the practice, my analytical nature did have me reflecting upon the fact that casual, accidental, haphazard, arbitrary and unsystematic are synonymous with random. The Bible teaches that kindness should be regular rather than random and consistent rather than casual.
Another thought came to mind. If a random act of kindness is carried out, is it equally, or perhaps in some instances, more about making the giver feel good, than benefiting the one who receives the kindness?
And is there a quota? Are acts of kindness limited to a certain number per month or year?
There is a very positive word within the RAK statement. It is the word “acts,” suggesting actions rather than just words. The apostle James, encouraging believers not to just say, but also to do, explained that if someone “…comes to you in need of clothing or something to eat and you say to them, ‘God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,’ but don’t give them the things they need…your words are worthless.” (James 2:16, 17). In other words, even the phrase “God bless you!” has the potential for being cavalier and empty rather than comforting and provisional.
Then there is the example of God. Lamentations 3:22,23 (the passage of Scripture that inspired and prompted Thomas Chisholm to write the well-known hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness) states that, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; His loving-kindness is new every morning; great is His faithfulness.”
Random acts of kindness are great, but regular, active, heartfelt kindness that becomes a way of life is fantastic.
“Kindness is a language that deaf people can hear and that blind people can see.” Mark Twain