I often drive with Google Maps on in my car. Even when I'm commuting, I'll usually have it on the screen. One of the reasons is that it has live-traffic information that can be helpful - especially if there are roadworks, traffic, or police doing a speed check.
And within the app, I can easily press the "Report" button if I notice an obstacle other people might want to be aware of and thus avoid - debris on the road, a broken-down car, yet another roadworks project.
One afternoon I reported an accident so other drivers could be aware, and continued my drive home. It was a couple of hours later I got a new notification, saying I'd helped 910 other drivers because of my report. I'd forgotten I'd tapped those buttons hours earlier! But somehow they'd helped almost a thousand cars behind me on the road.
This got me thinking about how our simple actions can ripple out into the world, to people we may never meet or know. And we may never know how far the ripple goes or what it results in. We won't get a phone notification with the stats. But that shouldn't discourage us from being kind to those we interact with, seeking to make their day brighter or easier.
And so I'm reminded to ask the cashier how their day is doing, and waiting to hear the reply. To smile at the people I pass on my walks. To ask the next question in the conversation and remember the details that were shared with me so I can follow up later.
I am not always good at this. Especially when I'm tired or using my second language. But I want to remember that God sees the quiet choices to love my neighbour, and can be trusted with the outcome of my small acts of obedience.
So, notifications or not, may we choose small acts of kindness towards the people in front of us this week.
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