The power of Kindness

In a world that can be cold, harsh, violent, and at times brutal, kindness proves that our humanity has a better side, a side that is caring and gentle, a side that can rise above almost anything… the power of kindness is undeniable.  It is one of your superpowers.

                             Matthew Kelly (Life is Messy)

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What does it mean to reflect the imago dei?

What does it look like to be the ongoing incarnation of God?

Spirit carriers?

 

It does not look like domination

Control

Coercion

Cruelty

Retribution and punishment

 

It does not look like exclusion

Conditional grace

Radical piety

 

It does not look like “don’t say gay”

Retributive legislation

Voter suppression

 

and it certainly doesn’t look like the pro-life movement

which, when looked at closely

is not actually pro-life at all

 

part of the problem I suspect is that

people do in fact reflect the image of the God they worship

in some case

the God they have created (in their own image)

 

it is a sad commentary

that the more holy a person thinks one is

the more deplorable they (often) become

 

walking in the way of Jesus seems to involve one thing

love

 

and love seems to demand

above all else

one thing

 

kindness

 

we live in a dehumanizing world

kindness is the fairy dust of love

that re-humanizes people

 

a smile

a kind word

a bit of monetary help

a prayer

a moment spent listening

 

that it what it looks like to reflect the image of the creator

that is what it looks like

to be children of God

 

someone says something stupid on Facebook

be kind

someone makes an error

be kind

someone embraces the lies pouring through their TV

be kind

someone hurts you

be kind

someone disappoints you

be kind

someone betrays you

be kind

 

our kindness can tip the balance

between hate and love

fear and hope

compassion and apathy

forgiveness and retribution

 

our kindness

random or otherwise

can change a person’s life

 

The Rev. John Watson, also known as Ian McLaren

one of those supposedly dour Scottish Presbyterians

 

once made a profound comment.

 

“Be kind. Everyone you meet is carrying a heavy burden.”

 

(No, Plato did not say this, nor did Philo of Alexandria)

 

Be kind!

Be kind!

Be kind!

 

Or, as Henry James once famously said.   ““Three things in human life are important:

the first is to be kind;

the second is to be kind;

and the third is to be kind.”

 

There are people out there I disagree with

There are people who say foolish (IMO) things

There are people who are hurting

There are people who are hiding

 

There are people out there

who need to be saved by our superpower

kindness

 

so whatever you do

be kind