Random Acts of Kindness

Last summer Ginnie and I went to a reunion of the company I used to work for in Loveland, Colorado, Hach (pronounced “Hawk”) Company. It was great seeing some of my old work associates and friends. One person in particular who, when I worked with him, I wouldn't have given him another five years to live, (Alcoholism, I was quick to judge) was, looking fit, healthy and happy, 35 years later. So much for my judgments.

One young man at the picnic reunion came up to me. I say “young man” because he had a shaved head making it hard for me to judge his age, or remember who he was. He put his hands on my shoulders, looked me in the eye, and said, “Curt, do you remember me?” (I did not. With the shaved head he was unrecognizable.) “You helped me so much,” he said. “I feel like I'm here today, healthy, because of you.”

Whoa. There was something about his dark brown eyes that triggered a bit of memory. “Are you the Italian kid, with a motorcycle, who I took the blood pressures for?”

“That's me,” he cackled. “What you told me about diet, easy on the pasta, throw away the salt shaker, and aerobic exercise saved my life.” (He did look fit.)

Besides being in Human Resources, I was an EMT and in charge of emergency medical treatment at the plant. He hadn't been feeling good, so he came to me for a BP check. His blood pressure was sky high. I had no idea that what I told him at the time would sink in. In fact, I didn't even consider taking his blood pressure and advising him about diet as an act of kindness. It was just a part of being an EMT and in HR.

Another fellow I remember well. We had been good friends. He came up to me and asked if I remembered providing my office to a group of employees who wanted to pray for him. He was having a serious surgery the next day, a surgery he may not have survived, and his friends wanted to pray for him.

No, I did not remember providing my office to a group of employees who wanted a private place to pray. I have no recollection of this event at all.

Anywho, here he is, 35 years later, owing his life, he believes, to his friends who prayed for him.

Shazam! If random acts of kindness can have such far reaching effects, it makes me wonder about the times I have not been nice to people. (Yes, we all can be difficult at times.) How have negative acts played out?

We all hear stories about somebody standing in line at the checkout and paying for a stranger's groceries, especially at this time of year. Acts like this are almost becoming routine or expected.

Recently at the Iowa State/Iowa football game, when I was having a problem with the stairs (no railing) while leaving the stadium, and had to sit down on the steps, a gentleman stepped forward and asked, “Do you need an arm, Sir?” I did. He helped me all the way down to where there was a hand rail. He may have saved me from a fall, and worse.

Do I stop and hand money to a person begging at an intersection? How do I know that it's not a scam? What does the Biblical story of The Good Samaritan tell me?

Fresh from EMT training, I encountered a collapsed person in the lobby of a hospital. I tried to give aid and couldn't figure out why everyone else was ignoring this person in distress. A nurse came up, tapped me on the shoulder, and mouthed the word, “Fake.”

I felt like a fool. We are torn so between knowing when to help and when not. Is the beggar at the intersection for real? He/she looks cold and hungry. All I know is that a couple random acts of kindness years ago, had far reaching effects. So, help someone today, even if it is a ruse.

Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.