KINDNESS BRIDGES CHASMS
We come now to our last step in growth in kindness.
Since kindness is power, I’m going to exercise this kind of power and only this kind of power, in every situation. Many wonder if kindness is power. They try to rule situations by threats. But threats soon wear out. No one is ever really changed by threats. Only by kindness can people be changed. Look back over your life and see who are the people who have influenced you and how. You’ll find kindliness at the basis of all influence over you.
A German pastor stood looking out over the ruined city of Frankfurt, now slowly rising again. His eyes were wet with tears as he told me of a pastor and his yound people who came to Germany from America for the summer to help rebuild the ruins. They were obviously not used to this hard manual labor, but they heroically toiled beside German laborers. Some of the girls, dead tired at eventide would throw themselves upon their beds and go straight to sleep. The German workmen were at first non-communicative, but gradually they saw the motives behind it all. Then one day, said the pastor, he saw a German workman take out of his pocket a piece of precious cake and offer it to the pastor. It seemed to echo the word of Jesus so long ago; “Take, eat.” “And there,” said the pastor, “I saw the chasm of hate and feat bridged – bridged by this incarnate kindness to the pastor and his group.” Kindness is power. Use no other.
Some Quakers were feeding people in Poland during the war. A Polish woman came up and said to them, “You feed everybody?” “Atheists, Poles, Russians, Germans?” “Yes.” “Jews, Catholics, Protestants?” “Yes.” She drew a deep sign and said, “Well, I knew there ought to be people in the world like that, but I didn’t believe there were.” And that proved to be power. For as someone said, “There were only two who came out at the end of the war with enhanced reputations – Christ and the Quakers.” And they both used kindness against the background of hate and force.
Gracious Father, help me this day to be clothed with kindliness. May the first thing people see in me be kindliness. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: God lets His kindly rain fall on the evil and the good. I also shall rain kindliness on all, regardless.
We come now to our last step in growth in kindness.
Since kindness is power, I’m going to exercise this kind of power and only this kind of power, in every situation. Many wonder if kindness is power. They try to rule situations by threats. But threats soon wear out. No one is ever really changed by threats. Only by kindness can people be changed. Look back over your life and see who are the people who have influenced you and how. You’ll find kindliness at the basis of all influence over you.
A German pastor stood looking out over the ruined city of Frankfurt, now slowly rising again. His eyes were wet with tears as he told me of a pastor and his yound people who came to Germany from America for the summer to help rebuild the ruins. They were obviously not used to this hard manual labor, but they heroically toiled beside German laborers. Some of the girls, dead tired at eventide would throw themselves upon their beds and go straight to sleep. The German workmen were at first non-communicative, but gradually they saw the motives behind it all. Then one day, said the pastor, he saw a German workman take out of his pocket a piece of precious cake and offer it to the pastor. It seemed to echo the word of Jesus so long ago; “Take, eat.” “And there,” said the pastor, “I saw the chasm of hate and feat bridged – bridged by this incarnate kindness to the pastor and his group.” Kindness is power. Use no other.
Some Quakers were feeding people in Poland during the war. A Polish woman came up and said to them, “You feed everybody?” “Atheists, Poles, Russians, Germans?” “Yes.” “Jews, Catholics, Protestants?” “Yes.” She drew a deep sign and said, “Well, I knew there ought to be people in the world like that, but I didn’t believe there were.” And that proved to be power. For as someone said, “There were only two who came out at the end of the war with enhanced reputations – Christ and the Quakers.” And they both used kindness against the background of hate and force.
Gracious Father, help me this day to be clothed with kindliness. May the first thing people see in me be kindliness. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: God lets His kindly rain fall on the evil and the good. I also shall rain kindliness on all, regardless.
Dear Pastor Jim Kok,
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to follow your teachings on "care & kindness". I like your words and like to feel your care and kindness through your writings.
But recently, I have doubts - how come people, even Christians, so often return evil for kindness? In my case, how come I take pains to do good and show kindness to people whom I think need help, but they take advantage of me, mistreat and bully me. It hurts! I cry out to God in prayers, but it seems to me that God wants to teach me forgiveness through some of these events. Why should I forgive these people who do not even apologize? It's not fair to be a committed Christian and it can be great pains to live a committed Christian life. I find myself more often dream of death and living up in pain-free heaven.
I'm struggling...
Virginia
Virginia-Thank you for your honest but hertbreaking reflections.
ReplyDeleteYou need someone with whom you can talk. A Pastor, counselor, or wise friend. You are hurting and being hurt. Guidelines, suggestions. boundaries, expectations must be adjusted, modified, shaped so you will not end up in despair. Find someone you feel comfortable and trust to talk about all this.