"Kindness of Strangers"

The title comes from a book I read back in the late 1990's that told of Mike McIntyre traveling across the country with no money and simply relying on the kindness of the people he met to feed him, give him rides and whatever else he needed. It was a really good book that provided an idea of the kindness of people that we so often take for granted or assume doesn't exist anymore.

I know during my travels around the country I met many people who had to rely on the kindness of strangers to get from one place to another. I met hitchhikers and people at concerts carrying hand-made signs with the city that they wanted to get to written with an offer to help with grass, gas or whatever they had to spare.

I saw people outside of concerts with their index finger hold up to show their need for a "miracle." A "miracle" was when someone had an extra ticket and was willing to give it away to someone wanting to get into the concert. You could see in most peoples eyes the desire to get into the show and the belief that someone would come along to make their day.

I saw people that were hungry being fed by people who had kitchens set up to make and sell food in the parking lot. I saw many people sharing kindness and blessings with others and often saw that good deed paid forward by the person who received it and they couldn't wait to do the same for someone else.

I've seen the kindness of strangers while on a mission trip to New York City, in my own city, on the road and everywhere else. I see how most people truly want to help others and hope that kindness will be there during their time of need.

Can you share some kindness with a stranger today? Could you buy a sandwich for someone hungry or pay a bill for a needy family? Could you find a way to make a difference today?