A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another
Watch Paint Dry Day, Dress Up Your Pet Day, Middle Name Day. It seems like you can't go 24 hours without there being some ridiculous event to celebrate. However, today is Random Act of Kindness Day - and that's something we can get behind. In fact, if we really take a hold of this day we could change the entire direction of the world.
In the hours before Jesus' death on the cross he knew the pain and suffering that was coming his direction but his focus was always on love. In, fact it was love that took him here. His love for us, His creation and for our eternities being matched together through the most sacrificial act of love the world will ever see.
It was during these hours Jesus gave his followers a new challenge and command: to LOVE one another. Wow!
Let that sink in. We hear that message a lot in church but yet there's still many areas where we find it hard to show love: our families, our neighbours, our enemies. We clearly have more work to do in this area, so again let Jesus' command sink in and highlight in our lives where we are less than loving.
And let's take charge of this day! Let's challenge ourselves, commit our actions, thoughts and words to Jesus and watch him transform the lives around us as we randomly bless people. Maybe it's having that awkward conversation with your parent/s, maybe it's sitting beside that person you see on their own everyday, maybe it's simply picking up the litter around you. Whatever it is do it knowing that Jesus is shining through you to other people.
And if the kindness bug bites you, why not sign up to volunteer at the festival this year?