“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ -Martin Luther King Jr.
It’s not difficult to get caught up in your everyday routine. To sweat the small stuff and stress constantly. But there comes a point, when that tunnel vision must be broken. When we must look up and notice the hundreds of souls we pass each and every day, remembering we’re not the only ones that matter.
As Martin Luther King Jr. so eloquently stated, we must ask ourselves, what are we doing for others?
On a Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks ago, I was rear-ended at a roundabout. While waiting for the police to arrive, I watched the cars passing in the neighboring lane. Each car yielding to the oncoming traffic, waiting their turn. No more than a minute went by before I heard the honking of an angry car horn. I turned to see a blonde-haired woman in a shiny black SUV screaming from behind the wheel, furious the car in front of her hadn’t made it’s way into the roundabout within the 10 seconds she expected it to. She threw her hands up in the air, screamed profanities and laid on the horn. When the car in front of her began to move she leaned back and yelled, “finally!” speeding into the roundabout.
At first I was filled with rage. How could someone with such privilege be so rude and abrasive in such a trivial situation? I was disgusted with humanity. Disgusted that we can live in Wisconsin, with beautiful green rolling hills, fresh water and great food at our fingertips only to turn around and freak out when the car in front of us doesn’t move as quickly as we like.
But just as soon as those thoughts ran through my mind, another set replaced them. In what ways was I like that woman? In what ways did I let my tunnel vision cause me to act poorly to those around me when facing trivial inconveniences? In what way could I help make a change in our culture? Like Martin Luther King Jr asked, what am I doing for others?
It’s a question I want to challenge you to ask. A question A&J Specialty Services, Inc. is committed to asking and answering as well.
A kind word. A kind deed. A kind smile. All small things that can change the world we live in. When we commit to restoring kindness, we commit to restoring lives. We commit to drowning out the angry, selfish voices that honk and yell at us. We commit to no longer walking through life with tunnel vision.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
We all know from personal experience how far an act of kindness can go, big or small. Now think what could happen if the entire city of Madison and the surrounding communities committed to restoring kindness? Imagine the possibilities. After all, we’re all in this together. Let’s start acting like it. Let’s start asking ourselves everyday, what are we doing for others?’
To join the movement visit A&J and Restoring Kindness.