IN 1993 Dr Chuck Wall, a lecturer in Business Studies at Bakersfield College California, was getting bored with the outside assignments he was setting his Human Relations students; something different was needed.

Then he heard a radio announcement “Another random act of senseless violence.” It got him thinking – could he send his students out to commit random acts of senseless kindness and get them to write up what they did and analyse their experience and that of the recipient? 

What made this assignment so successful was the sincere personal interest shown by the students. 

An act of kindness is not complicated, it can be a smile, but it does have four components: dignity, respect, compassion and humility. If we have these and show them to others we are likely to receive them back.

Street pastors try to put these four components into practise when we listen, care and help those we meet on Saturday nights/Sunday mornings, but we must not stop when we take our uniforms off. 

For example, three weeks ago the duty street pastor team helped a young woman who was not well, and two weeks later the same woman saw the street pastors and thanked them for helping her – not realising that it was an entirely different team. The first team did the work, but the second team got the praise – this happens occasionally.

If you know or meet a street pastor, ask them why they walk the streets late at night? They would love to tell you what motivates them to acts of kindness.

Chuck Wall suggests that all people should actively attempt to live by his phrase, “Today I will commit one random act of senseless kindness.” Will you?

KEITH HASLER
Coordinator​ of Cirencester Street Pastors