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A Bucket Of Balls

June 26, 2010

It takes so little effort to be nice, to be generous, to make a difference in someone’s day.

Yesterday Josh, Nate and a friend spent the afternoon at Two Eagles Golf Course. They had some time to spare and chipped in to buy a bucket of balls to hit at the driving range. When those were done, they were done.

A gentleman approached them, chatted with them for a bit, gave them some tee’s that he had and then, for no reason, bought them another bucket of balls, wished them well, and went on his way.

I say, “for no reason,” but isn’t there one? I don’t know who he was, and I am quite sure he won’t be reading this, but I wonder what happened before he walked over. Did he see the three of them laughing and having a good time—scampering out as far as they dare to grab the nearest balls just to extend their time at the range when their bucket ran dry? Did it remind him of something or someone or just a time when he was their age?

I can’t say for sure, but for some reason he wanted to make their day; and he did.

Why do most of us stand by and observe but not go that extra step to do something nice for a stranger? Are we afraid of being rejected? Are we afraid someone will take it the wrong way or think it strange? Are we too in a rush? Or, worse, do we not even see those opportunities to be kind?

I am just reflecting on this today and wondering what opportunity will present itself.

I think God is so much like that stranger at the golf course. I think He delights in doing things for us, “for no reason” other than it brings him joy to do so. He is the master of “the moment” and, because He is so, I think He prompts us to not miss out on what He finds so delightful.

If we will pause and see what He sees, I think we will find so many ways to touch people’s lives with a little bit of sunshine, for no other reason than they share this earth with us and are of equal importance before God; they are another heart beating; another soul breathing. It should come naturally to us, because ”[We are] God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2: 9 NLT).

On a bad day, a tragic day, those within arms reach quickly become friends. Why not on a good day, a day when nothing much is happening, when there is no immediate need, just an opportunity.

—Teresa Klassen (http://onebrownleaf.wordpress.com/)

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