Opinion Articles

*Random acts of kindness
By Josh Callinan
Josh Callinan is a Communications student at Newcastle University and a member of the Catholic parish of Maitland.

Life creates many complex situations where decisions need to be made. But sometimes these decisions can be facilitated by people who extend their hand in random acts of kindness.

A random act of kindness is similar to returning a favour but the other way round. It is paying the favour forward, in a completely unexpected and seemingly insignificant gesture that helps a person in a moment of need.

In an uncertain and ever changing environment where threats of terrorism knock on our door, governments abuse power, poverty thrives, natural disaster looms and the Socceroos have finally qualified for the World Cup, random acts of kindness may be hard to find. But on a recent trip to Newcastle University , I found one.

I  regularly ride my bike to the train station, my long brown hair waving in the wind, and commute to Callaghan campus by rail, concerned as I am with both preserving the natural environment and overall economic stability.

This particular Tuesday morning an assessment was due and so I decided to catch an earlier train to give myself extra time to start - I mean complete - the task.

Pedalling frantically, I passed the waving hand of an old school friend  driving in the opposite direction, and realised I had broken our promise of breakfast together that day.

In too much of a hurry to care I waved, pedalled faster and arrived right on schedule, only to discover that my friend had turned around and followed me to the station.

I felt excited to see him, disappointed for forgetting and flustered about the approaching train and potential conversation that would kill precious assignment time, all at the same time. He asked, “Do you want a lift?”

Wisdom required a ‘no'. But he persisted and convinced me of his expertise. His trump card was the laptop in his car.

I swiftly took up the offer and within a couple of hours the deal was done, assignment handed in and a Vegemite smile appeared.

I was more than grateful for the deed but it wasn't until later that afternoon that I understood the significance of what had transpired. Track work had stopped trains that morning and they were replaced by buses - which arrived more than three hours late.

A potentially disastrous day became a positive experience all thanks to the random act of kindness delivered by my friend. How easily a helping hand transcends difficulties and drama!

But the question is not so much whether or not I have received a random act of kindness today. Rather, the challenge is whether or not I have decided to create a random act of kindness for someone else.