A few years ago Chris and I holidayed in Vanuatu, most of you will remember that we asked the kids for donations, went and purchased some school supplies and organised to drop them off at a remote school. We put some photos on facebook for you to share with your kids. It was fun to bring a surprise of this gift to the school. Nothing major, but we felt good doing it, it took very little effort and organisation.
When we were back in Port Vila we caught a bus (really a minivan) into town for dinner and to watch the rugby. We started chatting to a ni-Van guy in the van who works at the airport. As he was dropped off he paid our bus ride (about $12), reached into the window to tell us and said “I live by the sign” pointing to a phone tower on the top on the hill. We thought it meant that he lived near the sign but as we were driving away we could see a Christian Cross in lights attached to it.
So he didn’t know us at all apart from a fleeting conversation, had no need to do us a favour –and we could well afford to pay, probably more than he could. So why did he do it?
This was his experience of living in the kingdom, just like us surprising the Tanna school –he also got a buzz from surprising someone, nothing big or spectacular, just treating some random people, just for fun.
You never know where those favours go, it might be someone having a bad day, it might be the very thing that makes the difference for that person for joining us in the Kingdom or not. And living in the kingdom, there are times when you are able to and should be doing the favours forward and serving others. There are times when you really need to receive for a time. Bathe in the love. There are times when you have the energy or inspiration to serve others, this may be in your job, random acts of kindness such as giving the shop assistant the money back when she accidentally gave you too much change, paying your parking when its unlikely you’re going to get a ticket or helping a friend in need. Even pulling out a weed in someone’s garden when you walk by or putting a new roll of loo paper on the holder are all things that may seem insignificant but all work
together to being part of the kingdom and making life better for everyone. This is the Kingdom here on Earth which is an imperfect version of the God’s kingdom in heaven.