Oh My Goodness — Did You Miss World Kindness Day?
Yesterday, November 13th is the annual day on the calendar set aside for World Kindness Day. Did you celebrate? I confess I didn’t. Maybe next year, right?
And of all the thousands of Facebook posts from my hundreds of friends I only saw one shout out to the fact of #worldkindnessday. Likewise church e-news blasts were silent. World Kindness Day came and went without much fanfare — and perhaps that’s the problem.
This past week’s US elections swallowed up the oxygen in the room. And would the word “kindness” trend as characterizing what we’ve just endured? Two of the least liked candidates. Lowest voter turnout since the eighties. R-rated rhetoric. Humans belittled and bullied. A nation divided.
With the backdrop and the trauma of the week past, how did we miss it? Could we not have all used the refreshing of a holiday centered all around kindness?
For me this may be the biggest “Aha” from the political punching bag of this past week. Could we not “try a little kindness”?
And I can hear some of you now. “Really Jim? Are you that naive? Do you NOT understand all the geopolitical and socioeconomic and moral issues at hand?” I think I do to some extent. And again, can I reiterate “try a little kindness”.
Jesus was a fan of kindness. Perhaps he was the original banner carrier of Love Trumps Hate or in this case Kindness Trumps Hate.
“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind. Luke 6:35-36 The Message
Did you get that? Look like the Father, look like Jesus — BE kind!
In 1970 country music legend Glenn Campbell released a chart topping song Try a Little Kindness. Below are the lyrics and this is the link to the song if you want to give it a listen Try a Little Kindness – You Tube
If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he’s sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and say, you’re going the wrong way
You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you’ll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets
Don’t walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way
You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you’ll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets
So today (or this week, or for the rest of you life) why not try a little kindness!
Jim
