Day 5 (I think): acts of kindness

By Simon Varwell

Just before going to church yesterday morning, I caught a bit of the Heaven and Earth Show on telly, and saw a report about the Church of England’s new guide to Lent. Rather than tell us all what to give up and how, it encourages folk to perform acts of kindness throughout Lent. Like reverse haggle in a charity shop. Hand out fruit. Give free hugs. That sort of thing.

All a grand idea, but it’s all very Join Me. Joinees have been doing random acts of kindness (“raoks”) every Friday for years – why do we need Lent to do it? I guess having an excuse or motivation always helps, and the more people “raok” the better, so I am certainly not complaining about the CofE’s initiative.

But… if Lent is just copying ideas from other people, then I’m still no closer to finding its true meaning and purpose.

Jesus – the new Danny Wallace? No.

3 Responses to “Day 5 (I think): acts of kindness”

  1. Lara Says:

    Geez dude!!!

    People are trying to initiate change in the world and you knock ‘em down for copying.

    Maybe you’re an Aussie in disguise with all this tall poppy stuff {:-P

  2. Simon Varwell Says:

    I’m not knocking them at all. Just arguing that if it’s all about random acts of kindness, then Lent isn’t really anything new, original or useful.

    And what do you mean by “tall poppy stuff”? Some sort of okka expression?

  3. Lara Says:

    You are very hard to please sometimes…

    Info on Tall Poppy Syndrome – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tall_poppy_syndrome

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