Across the Bridge
  • Mission
  • Blog
  • DONATE
  • NEWS
  • Ministry Plans
  • Partners
  • Current Meetings
  • About
  • Mission
  • Blog
  • DONATE
  • NEWS
  • Ministry Plans
  • Partners
  • Current Meetings
  • About

ATB blog

Random Acts of Kindness

6/2/2018

0 Comments

 
There are days that we wonder if we belong on this planet because the events of the day are disturbing and alarming. We wonder if our fellow man is really our fellow man or some aliens that have invaded in the last 24 hours. It reminds us of the words in that old song, "Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you, If heavens not my home then Lord what will I do."

And then, there are days we treasure because we see those Random Acts Of Kindness that make you believe God is among us and that the givers of this world are overwhelming the takers. These acts are spontaneous love poured out like the greatest nectar of unselfish grace, which reminds us that God has extended his territory to a heaven on earth.

Over the past few weeks I have seen people whom society has given up on do some incredibly good things to help their fellow man. It motivates me to be a better man, even when all the better has been used up for that particular day. Yesterday though may have been the best. In order to bring it to life for you I have to be transparent with some of the raw details.

A young African American man who, by his own words, says he is recovering from addiction and a homosexual lifestyle, answered a question I posed to the group with a total breakdown of emotions, which led him to talk about the more than difficult relationship with his father. His tears led to more opening up which I cannot share, but an amazing thing happened while he was talking. A white woman, with not a whole lot of clean time walked over to him and hugged him while he shook from the emotion of it all and as he finished talking through it, she held on until he was done.

To me this was so kind and compassionate, but the best was yet to come. Later, after the meeting, I spoke with him, and he said that was the first time a woman had held him showing him that kind of unconditional love since he came out of that lifestyle, and it was literally life changing for him. The rest of the details are so very complicated and would take us off point, but lets just say, this young man was highly affected by this act while he was hurting the most. Getting it all out for him was a cleansing of his spirit. 

I drove away with near tears in my eyes just praising the Lord for showing up in such an incredible way. But, on the other hand, it doesn't surprise me because Jesus hung out with many hurting people and his compassion helped change their lives. He is just using us in the same way if we give him the opportunity to do so. He demonstrated it, Paul took it to heart:

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
                                                                               1 Corinthians 9:22

I am taking "all things" to mean that sometimes we have to get down and dirty, right where people are at, even if it makes us feel uncomfortable, to display Random Acts Of Kindness. We do it for Him, we do it for them, and then it changes us compl
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Glenn Yankowski

    Glenn is an ex-Marine Viet Nam vet who is also a recovering alcoholic, clean and sober for 30 years. He has been involved in start up and ongoing recovery ministry at North Atlanta Church and Campus for the last two decades. He has a passion for outreach and to spread the message that the answer to lasting and fulfilling recovery from addiction is in a relationship with Jesus Christ. He and the ATB team are available to assist in your questions or needs on an individual basis and will do so maintaining complete confidentiality. You may e-mail him at sgtski@bellsouth.net.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly