March 20, 2024
Kindness gets criticized from both sides.
The more common critique I hear is, “If I’m kind, people will take advantage of me.” I’ve found that that’s sometimes true. People have taken advantage of my kindness over the years. When they do, it’s frustrating. I may even get angry. Sometimes I’ve had to stop giving them what they’ve asked for.
More often, however, I’ve found that people who receive kindness extend it. Sometimes it comes back to me. Sometimes it gets extended to others. I may not see it, but it’s there.
The other critique I hear is, “In the midst of oppressive systems, kindness is not enough.” That’s also true. We’ve heard many stories of the kindness of individual soldiers in war zones, giving food or clothing or fixing up shelters for residents. Those people, however, still grieve for lost loved ones. They still face life without reliable food, shelter, and employment. The same is true of those who face prejudice and oppression based on gender, orientation, nationality, or race. Kindnesses give them a little respite, but their future requires a systemic response.
Kindness did, however, help them through another day. That’s an important thing.
Kindness will not save the world – for one thing, Jesus took on that task – but let us not abandon it as useless. Jesus gave thanks for the kindness of the woman who scented his feet with perfume. His body was buried thanks to the kindness of Joseph of Arimathea. He urged acts of kindness in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats: gifts of food, water, clothing, welcome, nursing, comfort.
Kindness will not save the world, but it will make a difference.
In peace,
Pastor Eric
