40 Acts of Lent: Day 20 - React

Today is not beginning as any of us planned or hoped as we hit the midway point of Lent and 40acts. Yesterday, innocent lives were lost during a senseless attack in the heart of our capital. In these moments of terror and uncertainty we must never forget that we can control one important thing, how we react. Today we're calling on you, the 40acts community, to double down on generosity and love for others.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season 

we will reap, if we do not give up.” 

                                                                                                          Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Your thought for today: 
Yesterday started just like any other day.
It ended with an attack on innocent people and the home of our democracy.
The hours after followed a pattern with which we are all too familiar: shock, disbelief and fear followed by mourning, a deep sense of loss and resigning oneself to face tomorrow with courage and determination.
During my journey home on the tube I struggled for answers and for words.  And then I remembered the comment, widely reported at the time, uttered by an Amish man whose granddaughter had just been murdered while at school by a man intent on horrific acts of violence.
"We must not think evil of this man."
Another member of the man's Amish community had continued, "He had a mother and a wife and a soul and now he's standing before a just God."
These men were living through an attack on their children, their community and their quiet and peaceful lives.
Hours after the horrific shooting that had left 6 people dead (including the gunman), members of this Amish community were comforting the widow of the man who had killed their loved ones.  It was reported that one Amish man held the father of the gunman in his arms for perhaps an hour while comforting him in his grief.
What motivated these people to such extraordinary acts of forgiveness, sacrifice and love?
The good news of Jesus Christ. It changes everything.
We're halfway through Lent and 40acts.  As a community inspired by the single greatest act of generosity the world has even witnessed – the cross – we seek to live lives of radical generosity to our neighbours. All of them.
Before Jesus died on the cross He asked the Father to forgive those who persecuted Him.  He sacrificed His own life as atonement for our sins.
With this in mind, we must not think evil of this man. Nor must we allow fear to creep into our communities as a result.
We, who have received forgiveness, must be generous with our forgiveness for others.
We must rise above the temptation to hate, to marginalise, to alienate.
We must treat our neighbours as ourselves.
We must forgive.
We must love.

No options, just radical, generous love today...
Wherever you are today, the most generous thing we can do is share the hope that is within us with those around us. How can you extend hope on a day like today to your colleagues, neighbours and friends?
A smile at the stranger on the bus, holding open doors, putting others first. Treating stressed out colleagues to lunch, a message of support to the emergency services or your local MP. Gathering together to pray for our communities.
Love and compassion today will take many forms.
Let us not grow weary of doing good