Dear Man Whose Car I Hit

The clock was ticking past 5 as I was still sitting in my cubicle, knowing that I had only a matter of minutes to skedaddle and make it in time for my work out class. 

This wasn't just any work out class, it was a) my favorite, and b) that one where it's been far too long since my last work out, and I know I reaaalllyyy shouldn't push it one more day. 

It was needed, both mentally and physically. And regardless of the workload before me, I had to make this class. So I locked my computer, grabbed my purse, and crossed my fingers that I could get through the dreaded Fairview intersection in 10 minutes. 

I did! I even managed to nail my parking job on the first attempt (gave myself a nice pat on the back for that one). With a few minutes to spare, I had just enough time to change into my work out clothes that were tooootally from the "I haven't done laundry in weeks so this is what I have to work with" collection. Everything was looking fine and dandy, until. 

Until. 

That word that signifies the story's about to change, and yupp, you guessed it! This one is. 

I reached down to grab my work out bag and one word came to mind: contacts. They were both vital for the cardio-based work out class, and 100% forgotten as I packed up in the morning. I admitted defeat as I scrounged through my purse and calculated how quickly I could drive home and back. The "and back" part just wasn't going to happen in time. And with an evening full of homework and laundry before me, I figured I just may have to use this as an opportunity to get a head start. 

I silently mourned my work out plans for a few moments before turning my engine back on. Having pulled in with no car to my left, I planned on taking advantage of that space. As my car was turning, I glanced up just in time to see the tan van door I was about to demolish. 

I stopped immediately, both of our eyes like a deer in headlights as we processed what could have just happened. I changed gears, and moved forward into my parking spot, silently thanking God for no or minimal damage, and preparing for a serious chastising. 

The man got out of his car, and examined his door. I was almost afraid to look as he ran his fingers along some scratch marks. I rolled down my window, ready for the much-deserved anger. 

"It looks like I hit you; I'm so sorry," I said. I braced myself as he turned towards me, but instead of resentment and frustration, I was met with unwarranted kindness and grace. 

"You did, but we're not going to do anything about it. I'm just going to go home and buff it out, because if we did something about it, it would ruin your day." 

My eyes welled up with tears, and I said the only words that could come out of my mouth:

thank you. 

He grabbed his gym bag, but before leaving, he said "stop and breath a bit before you go." 

And the tears flowed. 

And flowed. 

And flowed. 

Kindness is powerful like that. I wasn't crying over the situation (okay, maybe a little), or over my work out class, or over the end of a stressful day. I was crying because his kindness blessed me in a way that I didn't know my heart was needing it. 

The truth is, I didn't need a work out class. I needed to hear the words "stop and breath a bit before you go."

Dear man whose car I hit: thank you. 

Thank you for reminding me how powerful it is to live with overflowing grace and kindness in our hearts. 

***

But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us. 

1 John 4:12

Random Act of Kindness - January

On my 2013 Bucket List, I've got a goal to do one random act of kindness per month.

I have a torn heart about sharing my random acts of kindness. I do not want it to seem like I am doing either of the following:

-bragging about myself for completing these random acts of kindness

-convicting others to do the same

The truth is, I firmly believe that God put this desire in my heart, and I will be praying about each random act of kindness. I will be asking Him to guide me to accomplish what He has chosen. 

And I firmly believe that He is performing these acts, with me simply serving as the messenger. 

So I thought long and hard this morning about if I wanted to share this on the blog. 

And I've come to the conclusion that I do. 

Because this is God's glory that I'm sharing here, not my own. 

The past few weeks, I have been jogging my brain about what to do for my January random act of kindness. Pay for the person behind me in a drive thru? Ask a homeless person what their favorite meal is, and buy it for them? Leave a giftcard at Starbucks for a future customer? 

I thought about using Twitter to reach out to others for ideas. But, ultimately put it off for later in the month, figuring that the right opportunity would present itself. 

This morning, I got into my car for work a few minutes earlier than usual, 6:48AM. Fortunately, the drive to work generally takes about 10 minutes. Some commute, huh? 

As I turned my car on, I realized that I had a completely empty tank of gas. Driving home from Bible study last night, I decided to pull my signature move of procrastinating and leaving the gas for the next morning. 

As I was driving to the gas station (about a minute and a half from my house), I was thinking about Jesus. For whatever reason, it was hitting me very strongly just how good He is. Recently, I've been doing a lot of soul searching of my own. God has been ever so gently revealing to me how sinful my heart is, and how often I have ulterior motives to my actions. 

I was thinking about how Jesus never had ulterior motives. How it was simply impossible for Him to deny His perfect nature.

And then it struck me, how in spite of His beautiful heart for others, we still hated Him. Humans, we're quite special aren't we?

I got out to get gas, and for whatever reason, the idea came upon me to purchase a $20 giftcard to leave for the next person who would walk inside to buy gas. I thought about the measly amount sitting in my bank account at the present moment, and watched the dollar amount raise on my own purchase. 

I couldn't fight it. I knew I was being called to perform my January act of kindness. So in I went to purchase the giftcard. 

The choices were $25, $50 or $100, so I chose the amount closest to my original idea. I went outside to snap a quick picture for my own memory, and walked back in to make my request of the cashier. 

A woman was standing next to me while I asked that the giftcard be given to another customer today, as a random act of kindness. She was simply blown away by the act. Before I left, she asked to shake my hand. 

As I left, I said a prayer. I prayed that the woman realize that she was not asking to shake my hand, but Jesus'. I prayed that all those that were a part of this act recognize the originator behind it. 

And I went to work thinking to myself "This is it. This is what it feels like to be an obedient child of Christ."

Thank you Jesus, for using me in your grand plan. 

I will never understand, but I will be forever thankful. 

Have a wonderful Hump Day, my friends!