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A Kind Kind of Person


Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

          Some folks think of kindness as giving someone what they want or need, particularly if that thing makes their life easier. That’s not a bad understanding. I think the problem arises when we think of kindness only in terms of what someone wants, or only in terms of pleasant things. I know some other folks who delight in doing stuff “for ____’s own good” then standing back and watching the struggle. I submit that true kindness lies between those two extremes. It concerns itself exclusively neither with pleasant things nor “making a man/woman out of you.”
          Here’s another thing about kindness and compassion. The goal isn’t to allow the kind/compassionate person to pat themselves on the back. I’ve read about a white guy who was involved in the Civil Rights movement, who told an African American involved in the same movement that “his kind” should show some gratitude for all this white guy (and guys like him) did for them. I know some folks like that guy. “I did this…” or “my ______ did that,” and therefore the rest of us need to stand in awe of what kind people they are.” Expecting a payment for something you’ve done removes it from the realm of kindness.
          I tend to prefer anonymous acts of kindness to random acts. The more invisible the agent is, the better. I also like acts of kindness that are invisible to the agent. For me, kindness as a part of one’s nature, rather than as a conscious, deliberate act. Don’t open the door for someone because they need help. Don’t open the door for someone to show how kind you are. Don’t open the door because someone opened one for you or so that someone opens one for you someday.  Open the door for someone because you open the door for people. Do it because you are a kind kind of person.

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