Act two - Likewise by Rev Andy Campbell
We tend to think of generosity as a spontaneous thing. Off the cuff. A quick cup of coffee for a homeless person on the way to work. A gift of money when a relative falls into difficulty. High-fiving a stranger on the Tube. (Maybe.) But if spontaneity is our only mode of generosity, we shut ourselves off from some powerful displays of kindness. Planning ahead removes those limits and unlocks something extraordinary. You prepare yourself to be the solution to problems you haven't even encountered yet.
“Keep on imitating me, brothers, all of you. We have set the right example for you, so pay attention to those who follow it.” Philippians 3:17 TEV
When I arrived at the car accident others were already tending the injured. A young man approached, handed me a high-vis jacket, torch and walkie-talkie, and said, ‘Go down to the corner, stop all traffic and then we’ll direct the flow safely together.’So that’s what we did for 40 minutes. When ambulances had gone and police had taken over, I returned the jacket, torch and walkie-talkie to the man who, it turned out, worked in a call-centre.
‘So why do you carry this stuff in your car?’ I asked.
‘To be ready to deal with situations like this,’ he replied.
Wanting to share the Gospel somehow, I added, ‘You’ve been a Good Samaritan tonight.’
His response with a wink was – ‘Well, go and do thou likewise!’
I did. I bought these items and others for about £50, put them in the car boot, and in two years used them six times on the road. Sometimes helping means being willing AND having the right gear. On one occasion I was called a ‘Good Samaritan’, so you know how I responded.
GREEN OPTION:
Keep one helpful thing on your person at all times this Lent. Something small – a trolley coin, a pack of tissues, chewing gum, extra locker money. Be ready to give it away. 
YELLOW OPTION:
Create a kit of things that are personal to your situation – whether it’s a spare umbrella, a trolley coin, a snack pack or an inflatable life-raft – think of the things you might appreciate and put a kit together for others. 
RED OPTION:
Create a kit of things you'd probably never normally carry around, for people you'd never usually connect with. This might be an emergency kit for homeless people (you can find great examples of what to include in them online). Ask God for the opportunity to meet someone who needs it.
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