For the last few days I’ve been on Orcas Island off the coast of Washington attending one of Leonard Sweet’s advances. Yesterday (Sunday) we had a break so I decided to go hiking. The hotel front desk people recommended Turtleback mountain and that’s where I went.

After wandering a bit I found the trailhead parking, pulled in, briefly looked at the posted map and started up the trail at my typical pace. At first the slope was easy so I assumed this would be an easy hike to the first couple of overlooks. However, the trail started getting steep. I was thinking to myself, “I’m hoping this is a short stretch.” I’m not as fit as I should be, and I’m carrying around some extra weight. After numerous stops to rest I finally had to admit to myself that I wasn’t going to make very far if I didn’t slow down. I was trying to push past my physical limits, looking at the destination rather than enjoying the journey along the way.

Over the last few days of discussion we examined the church’s and our dismissal of play as a frivolous waste of time. As good Protestants we should be working constantly. After all, isn’t that what God expects us to do? (NOT!) Len asked us about the jobs of Adam and Eve in the garden. Did they even have jobs, or were they just to enjoy God’s creation and handiwork? (See Genesis 2. In verse 15, does “take care of it” imply work or enjoying gardening?)

When I was close to turning around on the hike up Turtleback Mountain, I realized that I was in the midst of a metaphor for the contrast between work and play. I approached the hike as a goal to be reached and conquered rather than as an experience to be savored as it unfolded.

Then I slowed down walking up the mountain and rested when I needed to. I didn’t need to rush the hike. I didn’t have anything to prove to others. I didn’t have anything to prove to myself.

In doing so I started noticing the true beauty of the landscape, the multi-hued greens of the mosses and small plants, the life in the decay of the deadfall trees, the water in swamps and streams along the way, the rustle of small lizards or animals by the trail, the noises of the birds, and the solace of walking alone in the woods without a need to meet any type of schedule.

 I ended up climbing somewhere around 1400-1500 feet in elevation and hiked 5.8 miles. For me that’s a significant workout especially considering the steepness of the trail. Slowing down and just enjoying the hike made all the difference.

The church I attend (One Community Church) does something we call “Live Love.” People talk about “random acts of kindness,” and maybe we’ve been the instigator or recipient of such gifts. The Live Love idea goes one step further into intentional acts of kindness, following Jesus into the world around us.

So many times churches view interactions with their surrounding community as a way to obtain new attendees or members. If I offer you financial help, spiritual guidance or friendship, don’t we commonly expect the other person to reciprocate by attending our church? That’s a sales transaction with an offer, acceptance, and implied contract. We let the prospect (er, person) sample the wares and then try to close the deal by suggesting they attend the church. I know we don’t always mean to, but if you look at the presentation of the “help” or the entertainment, the implicit expectation of reciprocity is clear. I believe this is one of the major factors in the apparent lack of success for outreach. The prospects recognize what is occurring and so they shy away.

Live Love is simply loving on the community with no expectation of return. It’s an ambush of help or love with absolutely no strings attached. Some took a roll of quarters and paid people’s cost for filling up drinking water jugs. Others saw neighbors moving and helped them. A recent rainstorm had filled a school parking lot with mud so it ended up being shoveled and swept. Firefighters and deputies received doughnuts, coffee, and cookies. Customers in a few convenience stores were asked their favorite candy bar and it was handed to them. At most we gave the recipients a business size card that said “You’ve just been ambushed by Live Love” with only the church name and web site on the backside.

In Matthew 6:1, Jesus said, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Johnny, one of the people who attends the church, posted a story on his Facebook page about a Live Love moment that occurred in an airport restaurant.  A mother was traveling alone with her special needs son who was tired and cranky. He had a meltdown and the mother could not calm him. Meanwhile a customer at another table paid their bill in secret – Live Love in action.

Don’t we help to build the kingdom of God when we remember that Christ sends us into the world to follow him and be a light? Expecting someone to show up at church  after helping or interacting with them seems to me to be the same as announcing giving with trumpets as Jesus condemned in Matthew 6:2. The reward comes from the Father, not from the building of a larger congregation or empire on earth.

Where have you seen this secret giving occur? Have you been the recipient? I’d like to hear your stories, and I’d like to include some in my new book which I’ll be starting work on shortly. You do need to register – sorry but it’s necessary because of the Internet trolls around now.