The Most Radical Thing You Can Do Today Might Be This Simple

The Most Radical Thing You Can Do Today Might Be This Simple

Have you ever walked into a store, stood in line, scrolled your phone, replayed an awkward conversation from three days ago, and completely missed the person standing right in front of you?

Because… same.

Some days, my mind is so full of my stuff — what I said, what I should’ve said, what someone else said, what’s worrying me, what’s making me feel small or unsure — that I forget there’s a whole world of people carrying their own quiet stories right beside me.

And then I came across this quote:

“Every time I read the Gospels, I’m struck by how much of Jesus’ ministry was just paying attention to people everyone else overlooked. That might still be the most radical thing a Christian can do.” — Beau Stricker

That one stopped me in my tracks.

Not because it’s loud or flashy. But because it’s so… simple. And honestly? So hard.

Jesus had this uncanny way of noticing people the rest of us walk right past. The woman at the well. The tax collector everyone avoided. The sick, the tired, the forgotten. He didn’t just see crowds, He saw individuals.

And lately, I’ve been realizing how easy it is for me to miss the ones right in front of me.

The Tiny Moments That Matter More Than We Think

At the grocery store, do I actually look at the cashier when I ask, “How are you today?” Or am I already reaching for my receipt?

At the gas station, when I grab my coffee, do I offer a smile that says, I see you — or am I already halfway back to my car in my head?

On my walks in the park, when I pass someone with their eyes down and shoulders slumped, do I say a simple “Hi,” or do I stay safely in my own little bubble?

I’ve noticed something when I do pause, smile, and really look at someone.

It changes the air.

Sometimes their face softens. Sometimes they smile back like they didn’t realize how much they needed to be acknowledged. Sometimes they say more than just “I’m fine,” and I get a tiny glimpse into their day.

And here’s the surprising part, it doesn’t just lift them. It lifts me.

Because the truth is, there are a lot of lonely people in this world. And sometimes… that lonely person is me.

On days when I feel a little unseen, a little disconnected, stepping outside myself and choosing to truly notice someone else somehow brings me back to myself. It reminds me I’m not alone in this big, complicated, beautiful human experience.

I’ll admit this one: when a waitress tells me her name and says, “I’ll be taking care of you today,” I haven’t always really heard her. I’ve nodded, smiled, and kept reading the menu like my dinner choices were more important than the human standing in front of me.

Now I try to say their name back.

It’s such a small thing. But you can almost see the moment land.

Jesus changed lives with conversations, not just miracles. And while I can’t heal lepers or turn water into wine, I can brighten someone’s day. And so can you.

So let’s make this fun, simple, and doable.

Here are three easy, no-cost, no-pressure ways to share love today,  the kind you don’t have to schedule, budget for, or overthink.

1. The “Look Them in the Eyes” Moment

Next time someone helps you, cashier, barista, coworker, server, pause for two seconds.

Look them in the eyes.
Smile.
Say their name if you know it.

“Thank you, Sarah. I really appreciate you.”

It takes less than five seconds, but it can change how someone feels for the next five hours.

2. The “Kindness Over Correctness” Choice

We all have moments where someone messes up. The order is wrong. The line is slow. The timing is bad.

Instead of letting frustration lead, try this:

“That’s okay. I get it. We all have days like that.”

You don’t just fix a moment, you remind someone they’re human, not a problem to be solved.

And somehow, that kind of grace has a way of coming back to you when you need it most.

3. The “First Hello” Challenge

On your next walk, in the parking lot, or passing someone in a hallway, be the first to say hi.

Just a simple, “Good morning!” or “Hey there!”

You never know who’s been walking around all day feeling invisible. Sometimes, your hello is the loudest kindness they’ll hear.

The Beautiful, Backwards Truth

Here’s what I keep discovering:

When we stop focusing so hard on our own worries, our own insecurities, our own “Did I say that wrong?” or “Why does this feel so heavy?” and start noticing someone else…

We don’t feel so lost anymore.

Jesus didn’t just bring hope into the world. He noticed people into hope.

And maybe that’s still our calling, too.

Not to be perfect. Not to be profound.
Just to be present.

What’s next?

If this spoke to you in even a small way, I’d love to know.

💛 Like this post so I know it found you.
💬 Leave a comment and tell me: where’s one place you’re going to try this today?
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And if you know someone who could use a little light today, go ahead and share this with them.

Because sometimes, the most radical thing we can do…

Is simply see each other.

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If you enjoyed this blog and found meaning, be sure to read: When Labels Lie: Why God Never Put You in a Box

For amazing Bible Studies to help you internalize your love for others: My I Can Story has many confidence-building devotionals for your journey.