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REFLECTION

Unusual kindness on the seashore is the theme for our reflection. Unusual means something not habitually or commonly occurring or done. Kindness means the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Unusual kindness can be explained as an act of generosity that is beyond the expectation of the recipient especially when it done by a person it is least expected from. Sailors, soldiers, Paul and others who were prisoners on a ship were destined for Rome for trial when they encountered a shipwreck and found themselves on the shores of Malta. In such a precarious situation they experienced an unsual hospitality from the natives of Malta. “After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. (Acts 28:1-2)

Dear friend, the natives of Malta demonstrated an unusual kindness. They were not obligated to be kind to strangers who had surfaced on their shore. They may not harm them because they were victims of a shipwreck yet they were not obligated to go out of their way to be kind to them by kindling fire to keep them warm and welcoming them. The native people were pagans,they did not show kindness because they were Christians but I believe they did so because they also share in the image and likeness of God our creator and for that matter, all human beings regardless of religion, race and culture or political differences still share in God’s attribute of showing kindness and mercy. Similarly most missionaries were successful because natives showed them unusual kindness to enable them share the Gospel. The case of the Bremen Missionary led by Lorenz Wolf in 1847 is a classical example. The King of Peki, his son and the people of Peki showed an usual kindness to Lorenz Wolf and others who had hitherto travel extensively without success of finding a mission station but the unsual kindness of the natives of Peki led to the birth of Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. We must learn to value and respect everyone we come across because we may become victims of life’s uncertainties and anyone may be our helper in our most precarious situation. I believe this is one of the lessons the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 teaches us, the essence of good neighbourliness. We share a common humanity regardless of our cultural, religious, racial and political differences and affiliation, therefore we must be kind to one another. We must continue to experience Ubuntu wherever we find ourselves. Ubuntu means “I am because we are” Shalom.

PRAYER

God almighty, may all of humanity show an unusual kindness to one another so that we may continue to preserve our mutual human dignity, peace and love in every corner of the world. Amen