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One Single Act: Gestures of Kindness, Compassion, and Courage That Change Us and the World
Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26A guide to reclaiming humanity through acts of kindness and generosity, ultimately transforming how we see the world.
On July 1, 2025, the first day of her tenure as Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Winnie Varghese, along with the diocese of New York, launched a campaign called #OneSingleAct. From the top steps of the Cathedral, they invited the diocese and neighboring community to perform or acknowledge one act of generosity, compassion, kindness, or justice daily, sharing it on social media for 100 days to fill their feeds with hope. It caught on in a way similar to the “Pay It Forward” campaign.
This book takes the idea of #OneSingle Act as a starting point and speaks to the fundamentals of Christian Spirituality. In a series of vignettes and essays —some of which draw on her experience in ministry, her personal life, as well as the lives of others—Varghese reflects on the monumental impact a simple act of charity can have, that ordinary and remarkable acts of Christian kindness and generosity can be inspirational, illustrating a path toward personal transformation and global renewal.
On July 1, 2025, the first day of her tenure as Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Winnie Varghese, along with the diocese of New York, launched a campaign called #OneSingleAct. From the top steps of the Cathedral, they invited the diocese and neighboring community to perform or acknowledge one act of generosity, compassion, kindness, or justice daily, sharing it on social media for 100 days to fill their feeds with hope. It caught on in a way similar to the “Pay It Forward” campaign.
This book takes the idea of #OneSingle Act as a starting point and speaks to the fundamentals of Christian Spirituality. In a series of vignettes and essays —some of which draw on her experience in ministry, her personal life, as well as the lives of others—Varghese reflects on the monumental impact a simple act of charity can have, that ordinary and remarkable acts of Christian kindness and generosity can be inspirational, illustrating a path toward personal transformation and global renewal.
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 3, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When we stop. When we think about it. We can all remember a time, maybe just a moment, when a simple act of kindness transformed our lives.
I can remember a time when I was driving down the road, when suddenly my car stalled. I moved to get out, my wheelchair in tow. Suddenly, I saw a $50 bill, all the money I had in the world at that time, fly out of my car. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a complete stranger handed me another one.
I can remember so many little moments growing up, people who helped with my ostomy or helped me learn a skill or simply made me feel like I wasn't an other in a world when I so often feel that way.
I can remember the physical therapist who, not so long ago, knew that I was finding a particular experience traumatic and she stood closer to me lightly touching. She never lost eye contact, a quiet way of saying "You're safe!" when I wasn't feeling safe.
It's one act. Maybe another. Maybe another. They're little gestures of kindness and compassion that changed me, shaped me, and brought me light in an often dark world.
Winnie Varghese, the Dean of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City, celebrates these single acts with "One Single Act: Gestures of Kindness, Compassion, and Courage That Change Us and the World."
One Single Act isn't so much an event as it is a ritual. It began as a viral campaign to spread joy, however, here it's a collection of vignettes offering Varghese's personal insights and reflections desired to inspire, educate, and motivate.
For those who always seem to ask, yes, "One Single Act" finds its foundation in faith. In this case, it's Varghese's Episcopalian roots and yet "One Single Act" doesn't preach. Instead, it facilitates conversation and shares a world where both individual gestures and collective efforts improve lives, inspire hope, and create lasting change both universally and one-to-one.
There's no question that I thought about my own Tenderness Tour, a small event that I started 37 years ago that helps to break cycles and empower voices. There are many other examples here, some will resonate more than others. All will open eyes and inspire.
There's no doubt that I'm here as a 60-year-old having survived far longer than expected with spina bifida because of the many single acts, big and small, that turned my life into the miracle that it is.
If there's one lesson that jumps out of "One Single Act" over and over again, it's that one single act can change the world and that one single act begins with each of us.
I can remember a time when I was driving down the road, when suddenly my car stalled. I moved to get out, my wheelchair in tow. Suddenly, I saw a $50 bill, all the money I had in the world at that time, fly out of my car. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a complete stranger handed me another one.
I can remember so many little moments growing up, people who helped with my ostomy or helped me learn a skill or simply made me feel like I wasn't an other in a world when I so often feel that way.
I can remember the physical therapist who, not so long ago, knew that I was finding a particular experience traumatic and she stood closer to me lightly touching. She never lost eye contact, a quiet way of saying "You're safe!" when I wasn't feeling safe.
It's one act. Maybe another. Maybe another. They're little gestures of kindness and compassion that changed me, shaped me, and brought me light in an often dark world.
Winnie Varghese, the Dean of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City, celebrates these single acts with "One Single Act: Gestures of Kindness, Compassion, and Courage That Change Us and the World."
One Single Act isn't so much an event as it is a ritual. It began as a viral campaign to spread joy, however, here it's a collection of vignettes offering Varghese's personal insights and reflections desired to inspire, educate, and motivate.
For those who always seem to ask, yes, "One Single Act" finds its foundation in faith. In this case, it's Varghese's Episcopalian roots and yet "One Single Act" doesn't preach. Instead, it facilitates conversation and shares a world where both individual gestures and collective efforts improve lives, inspire hope, and create lasting change both universally and one-to-one.
There's no question that I thought about my own Tenderness Tour, a small event that I started 37 years ago that helps to break cycles and empower voices. There are many other examples here, some will resonate more than others. All will open eyes and inspire.
There's no doubt that I'm here as a 60-year-old having survived far longer than expected with spina bifida because of the many single acts, big and small, that turned my life into the miracle that it is.
If there's one lesson that jumps out of "One Single Act" over and over again, it's that one single act can change the world and that one single act begins with each of us.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review