In our local journal there was a very sweet human interest story about a rescued cat. During our recent blizzard a small cat escaped from his home. One of the neighbors happened to be outside and heard a meow from far up in one of the trees. That neighbor called the fire department, animal control and all types of rescue places. Because of the blizzard and the road conditions, no one could come out. She and other neighbors, tried various ways to get to the cat but to no avail. Someone suggested posting on a local neighborhood online board. She did and soon two folks came by who were ironworkers and so were used to heights. Before the neighbor could explain to them what might be the plan, the one gentleman had climbed the tree and had rescued the little cat. The journal was happy to report kitty was doing well, safely back in her family’s home and the neighbors who joined together over this common crisis have been connected.

In another Blizzard of ‘26 story, one of our friends witnessed a snow plow truck getting stuck in his street and then two additional trucks getting stuck while coming to the aide of the first. So, he and his neighbors went out and hand dug the trucks out of the situation. As he said, “It turned out to be a lot of fun. Everyone got together over a common purpose.”

Reminds me that small acts of kindnesses are what brings communities together.

In this time of uncertainty, we need to remind each other of our commonality and our need to help one another. One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 8:14: “your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need”. It is not that life should be a tit for tat ledger and that I am keeping score so that when I need something, you have to give it to me. Rather life is a recognition that at various times of our lives we will have plenty and at other times, we will have want. In God’s economy, if everyone shares when we have plenty with those in need, it will be enough.

Abundance can mean all sorts of things: money, time, talents, encouragement, hope, kindness, etc. I could regale you with many stories of how our needs were supplied by the generosity of others- both financially and emotionally. Our response is that, when we can, we help others through our generosity of our time, talent and treasure.

We help others when we can and then at other times, we accept help when we may need it. For, like it or not, we will all need someone to help us at some point of our lives. And for some of us, we will need more help than we thought.

When we do the small acts for each other, the larger acts are not as difficult. We become practiced in the ebb and flow of giving and receiving.

What about you? If you had wintry weather like we did, any stories of neighbors coming together? Have you witnessed small acts of kindnesses? Ever? Do you look for opportunities to be the bearer of small kindnesses to someone who might need it?

The thing about sharing is that it gives back to us in so many ways. It is truly better to give than to receive. When we give, we enter into a cycle: we are metaphorically, sometimes even physically, releasing something that we are holding to the recipient. That in turn creates for ourselves a space and an openness to receive something new: a new opportunity, situation, or even something tangible. Mostly, in giving, we create an opportunity to be joined with our fellow travelers on this journey of life.