Little gestures can transform our culture

I look at the news and I hear about all of the division and anger in our country.  I know that is real for many people, but I sure don’t see it here. Even so, I have been pondering how I can be an agent for change.   What can I do to foster harmony and community?  This has been on my mind and heart for some time now.
The other day I was stopping by a drug store and as I approached the entrance I noticed a well-dressed man getting out of his car and heading toward the same entrance.  His vehicle had plates from Maryland.  I greeted him with, “Good morning sir,” and he followed me into the store.  As I passed the register I greeted the cashier with, “Good morning.”  I shopped alone for a few minutes and found what I had gone there for.  As I approached the register the man who entered just behind me was checking out.  He paid with cash and said to the cashier, “Apply my change to that gentleman (gesturing toward me).”  It was 50 cents.
Why did he do this?  I was dressed in slacks, dress shirt and tie.  Surely he did not think I needed the help.  I realized that my simple, little gesture made a difference.  Greeting him and greeting the cashier affected his heart in some way.  We often look at the dysfunction in the world, our city, or even our homes and the messiness seems so big that we feel helpless.  But marathon runners do not run the whole 26-plus miles in one step.  They take the first step, then the second and keep taking one stride at a time until they have completed the race.
There are about 80,000 Catholics in the Archdiocese of Mobile.  What if each and every one of us made a conscious and concerted effort to greet people in kind and respectful ways?  I think that these little gestures can transform our culture.  Our faith teaches us that each person is made in the image and likeness of God.  Let’s look for that in one another, and acknowledge that in one another by the way we greet and interact with them.  One step at a time we can build God’s Kingdom!
— Pat Arensberg is the Director of the Office for Evangelization and Family Life. Email him at [email protected] 
For more information concerning the events of this office, visit us at mobilefaithformation.org