Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17
I don’t know if the title today is the catchiest, or even the best way to describe today’s topic. But, there it is, and I’m sticking with it.
I began to think of this concept after hearing some discussion years ago after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The Kennedy assassination on November 23, 1963 was the defining date of my generation. There are many such dates in American history, such as December 7, 1941; June 6, 1944; September 11, 2001, and, I am sure, several others.
We are approaching that November 23 date, and I, as well as millions of other Baby Boomers, will recall every detail of that date. The shock of the Kennedy assassination caused many people to speculate that there was not a “lone gunman” who did the terrible deed. The assassination had such repercussions and such impact both politically and emotionally that many speculated that it could not have been done by an essentially inept loner who was a failure in so many areas of life. Lee Harvey Oswald, that lonely, unknown wanderer, could not have perpetrated such a world changing event, many felt. It must have been the work of nefarious cabals or governments!
So, to this day, there are many people convinced that such a cataclysmic event could not have been the result of the actions of this one deranged man. Proportionality demanded that for such consequences, there must have been a much larger activator.
Well, call me simple and pragmatic (it’s OK, really), but I believe that the evidence points to exactly that. One deranged man can change the course of history. Witness John Wilkes Booth in April, 1865 in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln- arguably a much bigger world changer than the assassination of Kennedy.
The Kennedy assassination literally changed the world, and it changed my world. The innocence of youth was shattered for me and my generation. My generation would go on to make the 1960’s a world changing decade- sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.
By the same token, small good actions that we take can have large positive effects on the world. That act of kindness can have a multiplier effect that we may never know.
So, my friends, be aware that the actions of one person can literally change the world. We may feel that our small actions are not noticed nor are they world changing, but good acts done for the right reasons can change the world. We just may not see the results right away.
Prayer: Lord, guide our actions so that your purposes may be advanced, Amen
