Simple Act of Kindness.

Oscar Wilde once said, "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention."

I've taken to a new habit at work, writing a thank you note a day.  Sometimes it's to a vendor, or customer, or trucker, or even a customs broker.  I'm always careful to say thanks on the phone, but how often do you get a thank you note.  I do it not only to stand out, but also because I'm sincere.  Without the help of dozens of people a day, I could not succeed at my job.

Today, I noticed Real Simple (a guilty pleasure of mine!) posted an article on Simple Ways to Make Someone's Day.  It gave some great ideas, but don't underestimate the power of the Thank You Note!

link to article:
Simple Ways to Make Someone's by Real Simple

So many times, we are so wrapped up in getting to the next place, we are not present in our current location.  Our mind is elsewhere.  When that happens, we fail to see all that is happening around us, including people.

My hope for today is that I do not fail to recognize those who help and support me.

Who is my neighbor?

Something today reminded me of a conversation between my daughter and me about a year ago (she was 5) in the car (where all the best conversations happen) going through downtown KC.

A : Why are there people under that bridge? It's cold out.

Me : Well, um, yeah, well, um, they live there honey.

A : why?

Me : they have no other place to go.

A : Can't they go home?

Me : No, they can't, they don't have one.

A : can't their mother give them a place to live if they don't have a home?

Me : my guess is honey they don't have any family to live with.

A : (starts crying) Mama, I think we should give them a home to live in or they can stay with us.

I remember at that point, all I could respond with was, "I wish we could honey."

She had not yet developed that callousness of they're probably drunks, or addicts, or too lazy to work, or any of the other snap judgments people tend to make. I always give the guy on the corner a dollar if I have one. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt that this dollar matters in his day.

When I hear projects to help those in need, it's easy to get caught up in the big ones that sound impressive or the exotic ones in other countries.... and I'm not discounting those programs at all, but I wonder how we (me) can find the invisible neighbors. The neighbor we don't see that sits in the back row of church and doesn't say a word, or the elderly neighbor on our street who never has a visitor, or even the kid that we see that just doesn't seem to belong.

I'm still working on how I can take these musings and use my life to help the invisible neighbors. Until I do, I think my life is incomplete and not totally compatible with the way I want to live my life.

"Christian" Music has forever been ruined for me.

First it was South Park.

Then The Wittenburg Door.

Now, I can't listen to it on the radio or in church without giggling a little. Why? Read On....

I was never a fan of Contemporary "Christian" music to begin with. I mean, some of it is ok, but the rest of it to me is redundant, repetitive, and boring. To me, it doesn't praise the Lord, it's all about ME! ME! ME! Jesus save ME! Jesus help ME! MY relationship with you. Ad naseum....

It was kind of a secret. Something you can laugh about with your atheist and agnostic friends, but not something I would bring up at church. Then I realized I wasn't alone with the summer edition of Wittenburg Door's guide to Contemporary Christian Music : http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/your-guide-contemporary-christian-music

before that though, was a South Park episode where the boys decide they want to start Christian Rock Band (for the platinum record , not to inspire). It really funny if you can get past the language. IMO. It does make a point about the music. Basically they take old love songs and at the end of each line, they say, "Jesus". One example is "Three Times a Lady" by the Commodores is changed to "Three Times my Savior". Funny because I swear I've heard the same thing on Sunday.

If you love CCM and it works for you, by all means keep listening. I'm not sure the collection on my ipod would inspire you the same way it inspires me. On the other hand, if CCM lovers think this music is going to appeal to the young nominally religious crowd, they should probably rethink their game plan. If I'm annoyed by the sound of the music, I am pretty sure the message will be lost on me.

I'm just glad I'm not alone in my annoyance. Thanks SP and WD!

Dolphus Weary and notes in the margin.

My little one and I went today to listen to a speaker at church, Dr Dolphus Weary. Google him for his biography, that's not what I want to spend space on.

He spoke briefly about his book, I Ain't Comin Back and spoke a lot about race within the Christian community. If you read my blog at all, you know I've lost my Jesus, so I find speakers who talk about "Christian community" fascinating. Throw in my personal interest of urban plights and I am one captivated audience member. I could have listened to him for another 90 minutes.

On his biographical information sheet, I wrote in the margins... Not every note will become a blog entry, but most will ;) Here we go in order my notes:

• Racism no more in the body of Christ
• How is God preparing us for this?
• How do you arrive at your own answers?
• Where does compassion lead us?
• How do we bring God here now?
• Where are you running to? Where are you running from?
• We allow other things to get in the way of dealing with racism (the elephant)
• What positive influence to I give to my family?
  
• More to do with exposure than intelligence
• The gospel must break across historical barriers
• The problem with poor communicities is they aren't exposed to people who open up their world
• We don't have relationships. Relationships take time
• Be willing to be a learner
• Help me understand your lens.
• Planning. working. dreaming.
• people are quick work, but slow to build relationship

Out of context to someone who didn't hear his talk today, these things might seem odd and random. But each one elicits a strong emotion from me. Each one screams at me based on things I want to accomplish in my life, and things I've done.

Our vision, whether it's at COR or in another capacity, should be to reconcile and walk together.