Sunday, March 24, 2002
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Sunday, March 24, 2002 |
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Kindness is sometimes the missing ingredient By DR. DAVID L.
CHANCEY An 85-year-old man won $250,000 in a contest. His family didn't want to tell him because he had a weak heart and they were afraid the shock would be too much. The family asked his physician to approach the man. He casually asked the man what he would do if he were lucky enough to win $250,000. The old gentleman replied, "I think I'd give you half of it." With that reply, the doctor keeled over dead with heart failure! I'm afraid kindness is all too unusual these days, but oftentimes, once it is offered at home, at school, or in the workplace, it's contagious. In the midst of a hurried, frenzied, sometimes rude world, just be nice. A church member shared a story that Art Buchwald told about the day he was riding with a friend in a cab in New York City. When they got out of the cab, the friend said to the driver, "Thanks for the ride. You did a superb job of driving this cab!" The stunned driver responded, "Are you a wise guy or something?" "No, I admire the way you kept cool in heavy traffic. Not many cab drivers are able to do that. I'm glad I rode in your cab today!" Buchwald asked his friend as the cabbie drove off, "What was that all about?" "I'm trying to bring kindness back to New York City. I believe it's the only thing that can save the city." "You think one man can save New York City?" "It's not one man," said the friend. "I believe I have made that taxi driver's day. Suppose he has 20 fares. He's going to be nice to those 20 fares because someone was nice to him. Those fares will in turn be kinder to their employees, shopkeepers, waiters, or even their families. Eventually, the goodwill could spread to at least a thousand people. Now that isn't bad, is it?" "But you are depending on that taxi driver to pass your goodwill on to others." "Maybe he won't," said the man. "But I might say something nice to ten different people. If, out of 10, I can make three happy, then I can indirectly influence the attitudes of three thousand or more." "You're some kind of nut," said Buchwald. "That shows how cynical you've become," said the man. "Take postal workers, for instance. The reason so many of them hate their work is because no one is telling them that they are doing a good job." "But they aren't doing a good job." "They're not doing a good job because they don't believe anyone cares if they do or not," replied the friend. Buchwald and his friend continued walking down the street and noticed five workmen eating their lunch. The friend stopped and said, "That's a magnificent job you men have done. It must be difficult and dangerous work." The workmen looked at Buchwald's friend suspiciously. "When will this job be finished?" "June," growled one of the workers. "Ah, that is really impressive. You must all be very proud of what you are doing here!" As they walked away, Buchwald said, "I still don't think you are doing any good." "On the contrary," said the friend. "When one of those men digest my words, they will feel better about what they are doing and somehow the city will benefit." "But you can't do this alone," said Buchwald. "You're just one man." "But I'm not discouraged," he said. "I'm hoping to enlist others in my campaign." They continued walking down the street. "You just smiled at a very plain-looking woman," Buchwald said to his friend. "Yes, I know," the man replied, "and if she's a school teacher, her class is going to be in for a fantastic day." Do you realize the chain reaction you set off when you share kindness one person at a time? Your insignificant expression of kindness can make a huge difference in someone's day, or maybe in someone's life. Have you been kind today? Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Georgia. The church family meets at 352 McDonough Road and invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. and 6 p.m.
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