The Sainsburys Kindness Chain
I shouldn't really be telling you this, but on Saturday morning - the Jewish Sabbath day of rest, which I try to honour by avoiding 'work' including spending money and driving - I found myself in Sainsburys, pottering about choosing things for an impromptu barbecue later on.
I actually don't go to the supermarket very often as I'm far too loyal to my online shopping app for the weekly family purchases, so to go into an air conditioned shop, to choose some treats and goodies felt incredibly relaxing and, actually, quite Shabbat-y.
It had been that long since I'd last been, that it was totally not on my radar to have a £1 coin for the trolley, so I picked up a basket, thinking to myself that it would be fine, I'm sure I wasn't going to be buying that much stuff, and it was good for my health (and wallet!).
Within 5 minutes, with some extra charcoal, a couple of litres of soft drinks and stuff for the BBQ, I was regretting my bold decision, and placed the already quite heavy basket at the end of an aisle, whilst I scooted up and down for the extras I still needed..
When I went back to where I'd left it, there was a man leaning over it to reach the shelf. I apologised, rather embarrassed. He suggested I needed a trolley, to which I told him quite brashly that I was fine! I'm strong and totally capable! And I only had my phone and keys on me so that option wasn't available to me anyway. He looked at me with a kind, pitying smile. It was OK, I insisted. It was part of my cunning plan to restrict myself on what I bought. He laughed out loud at this point and looked at me and my basket.
He reached into his pocket and insisted on giving me a pound coin: "Here you go, love. Come find me at the end, or if you don't, give it to charity."
Despite my feminist, can do attitude, I was actually very grateful, and went off to get a trolley.
Later on, we saw each other again and exchanged pleasantries, and I was determined to give him the coin back and maybe do something in return for him; yes, I was going to hwlp him load his shopping into his car at the end. I had a plan and felt made up.
I spotted him at the checkout, about 5 minutes behind me loading up my shopping, so I rushed back to my car, unloaded it, rushed to the trolley park to retrieve the coin and started scouring the car park to spot 'blue Tshirt guy'.
Unfortunately I was too late to help him with his shopping, but I did find him, we had a great chat, centred on the value of acts of loving kindness to strangers whenever you get the chance, and one good deed leading to another.
Themes very familiar to me from Jewish teaching, and also it turns out in the Catholic church at which he is a regular.
He insisted I keep the coin and pass it on to charity, so I promised I'd donate it to my boys' Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge fundraiser with their school, for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK.
I'm writing this blog post in honour of James and the chain of kindness that he started in the fresh veg section of Sainsburys. Thank you, James!
(if you'd like to keep the chain of kindness going, please donate here - or comment with an act of loving kindness you've done or received since reading this post!)
