Thoughts on unexpected Acts of Kindness by David Reel

Last week, after worship at The Presbyterian Church of Easton, each attendee was given a gift by Pastor Eric Markman.

It is a simple gift, a hand-crafted cardboard star with one word painted on it, each one different.

The word on my star is appreciation.

We were asked to contemplate using that word as a North Star (also known as a guiding principle), to help us focus our perspective on and approach to life in a new year.

My initial reaction to appreciation as my North Star was negative. I told myself, I very rarely received or delivered appreciation, even when I was the recipient of unexpected acts of kindness.

I told myself privately in the world we live in, it is naïve to even think much about receiving or delivering appreciation on unexpected acts of kindness.

In such a world, we should expect nothing more than a continuation of deepening divisions based on strongly held and differing opinions on political party allegiances, the motives and the performance of elected and appointed government officials at all levels of government,  positions on issues of the day, endless wars, rumors of wars, senseless acts of violence, and the causes and effects of economic uncertainty.

Despite that negativity, one of my North Stars is – “Sometimes it pays to sit and think.”

Accordingly, I decided to take some time to sit and think about the past and the future of unexpected acts of kindness in my life.

Much to my surprise, I came to realize that I had, in fact, experienced more unexpected acts of kindness than I expected.

Some were large, many were small. Regardless of size, every one of them was worthy of appreciation and none of them should have been ignored or forgotten.

Some of the most memorable that emerged from my “sit and think” session include:

•    Neighbors clearing our driveway after it was plowed shut from a snowstorm.
•    Neighbors delivering a portable air-conditioner during an intense heat wave after ours stopped working.
•    Neighbors joining us to rake and bag leaves in our large back yard.
•    A neighbor inviting us to a neighborhood block party as a way to get to know each other better, and in some cases, meet new neighbors        for the first time.
•    A friend inviting us to her home for Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner with her family members and guests after learning that,        as  empty nesters, we would be home alone on both holidays.
•    A friend fixing a windshield wiper after getting a huge estimate at a repair shop to do it.
•    A friend lending us a car for two days while our truck was in a repair shop.
•    A friend installing two new outside lights on our front porch.
•    A good Samaritan in Texas witnessing a dog pregnant with nine unborn puppies being pushed from a car and abandoned, then took her          to an animal shelter after which she was brought to Maryland for adoption by us.
•    A local veterinarian providing support and compassion beyond measure when it was time to have both of our senior dogs euthanized.
•    Volunteers at a monthly free “MY Tech Clinic” at the Talbot County Free Library, who patiently help non techies like me address technical        issues with their electronic devices.
•    The former owner of a historic and unique office desk who gave it to us and said his father would be thrilled it found just the right home.
•    A couple from Washington DC visiting our area, finding my wife’s lost wallet in St. Michael’s, hand delivering it to our home, and refusing        any reward.
•    Readers of my weekly point of view columns telling me how much they enjoy them.
•    Readers of my columns telling me they do not always agree with my point of view, but they always disagree without being disagreeable.

All these experiences had one thing in common beyond being unexpected gifts of kindness.

No provider of our unexpected gifts of kindness has ever cared about where my wife and I live, where we came from, what we do or did for a living, who we voted for, or what positions we have on local, state, and national issues of the day. Every unexpected act of kindness we have received has been spontaneous, freely given, and done without any expectation of any reward. They came from the heart.

Dr. Maya Angelou, often referred to as “America’s Poet,” has written, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

Now, I do know better about how often I have been on the receiving end of many unexpected acts of kindness.

As a result, I will do better… starting now.

In the spirit of “To whom much has been given, much is expected,” I will go forward searching for and responding to opportunities to provide unexpected acts of kindness with a hope the recipients may be inspired to do the same.

David Reel is a public affairs and public relations consultant who lives in Easton with his wife, one rescued dog, three rescued cats, and nine ducks.