Saturday morning I decided to go for a walk.  I drove to a deserted trail in the Talladega National Forest and stepped back in time.  I strolled for two hours into a vacant forest that was crammed full of wonders.  As I began my trek I had only planned for a two hour walk; one hour in and one hour out.  But when the one hour warning sounded I never even noticed; I just kept on walking oblivious to the time that had passed.

          It was only when my internal clock began to alarm and questions the reason for skipping lunch that I decided to turn around and make my way back.  The woods definitely compensated me well for my small sacrifice, treating me a great show.  Once I took a break to observe a giant woodpecker doing what he does best.  Suddenly I sensed movement; I froze trying to pick up the trail of my unexpected guest.  After a few moments I spotted this lizard creeping on a fallen tree.  Within a matter of seconds I witnessed a dramatic metamorphosis.  One minute he resembled the bark of this tree and then I watched him take on the form of the bush to which he was traveling.

          Here was a creature that knew something about the art of stealth; he was avoiding detection by moving slowly, quietly, and covertly.  As I watched his imperceptible movement I thought of another who walked this world in the disguise of a servant; clothed in humility.  One who went about secretly doing good to those who needed help and never called attention his sacrifices.  His was a live lived in humility.

          My challenge to you today is this; do something nice for someone who will never know it was you that performed the kindness.  Choose to help someone who cannot repay you.  Do a good deed in secret.  Fly under the radar and perform a random act of kindness.  Happiness is a choice; choose a quite life of kindness.

Something to think about:

• Humility is strong—not bold; quiet—not speechless; sure—not arrogant.

• The highest service may be prepared for and done in the humblest surroundings. In silence, in waiting, in obscure, unnoticed offices, in years of uneventful, unrecorded duties, our Lord grew and waxed strong.

• When the oak is felled, the whole forest echoes with its fall, but a hundred acorns are sown in silence by an unnoticed breeze.

• No one ever approaches perfection except by stealth, and unknown to themselves.

• In art and dream may you proceed with abandon.  In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.

Thankful for silent friends
Rickey Moore