“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” -1 Peter 3:8-9
I can’t imagine many more jobs as terrifying as washing windows on a high-rise building. I am not a fan of heights. Hanging off the side of a tall building with nothing but a cable keeping me from crashing to the ground sends a chill down my spine. Thankfully, there are brave people who are willing to do this work in our cities. I am grateful for them.
Recently, I saw an article that made me even more grateful for window washers. The Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi, serves patients of all ages. At this hospital, patients are treated for a variety of injuries and illnesses. Three superheroes showed up to help clean the windows. They were not just brave enough to hang on a wire and clean windows. They dressed as Superman, Batman, and Mr. Incredible. As they cleaned each window, they took time to wave to patients and hospital staff. At one point, they stopped at the pediatric floor where they played tic-tac-toe with the children.
The three men truly saved the day for so many people. They brought smiles in the midst of sadness. They delivered hope to those who could only see the illness before them. Their creative window cleaning helped shine the bright light of kindness on people who needed a moment of cheer.
We are not required to scale tall buildings to show kindness. However, these three superheroes remind us that we can bless others with a bit of creativity and thoughtfulness. While at work or at home, we can demonstrate the loving kindness of God through simple and intentional actions. When we are deliberate about how we treat others, we are capable of remarkable things. We can share God’s love and bring hope to the world.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
