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"The world is not kind so I will be" is thought we have visited a great deal over the course of the year; nothing inherently novel in that. What struck me about this picture is the juxtaposition of the two characters: often such pictures or thoughts come with genuinely delightful bucolic scenes or lovely flowers. They do not often come with a much darker theme.
But should I be surprised at this? I freely admit that I am in many ways a sort of bumbling bucolic fool, wandering through life ignorant (or ignorant by choice) of some of the realities of life (which I grant are out there). But there is kindness to be found in those places too, kindnesses that are invisible to me in what is a different point of the world.
Regardless of bucolic scenes or dark realities, the world can still be unkind. All the more reason - in whatever circumstances - to practice kindness as often as we can.
Being kind to others, especially if they are unkind towards you, is a central tenant of a major Western religion. With the rise of social media more instances of unkindness gets exposed along with acts of kindness, and there are more people walking the planet so more of everything eh, TB?
ReplyDeleteNylon12 - Both sides of the coin do get shown more often; that is a great point I do not think about as much as I should (or maybe I instinctively downplay such things in my mind). One of my main "feeds" in social media are pet rescues; it is amazing how much work goes on and continues to go on based completely on volunteer efforts.
DeletePower plus forbearance is rare.
ReplyDeleteIt is, John. Many people, I suspect, err on the side of believing power will do all things. They forget that without forbearance, power becomes despotism.
DeleteI find it interesting that people are sometimes surprised by an act of kindness. It doesn't seem to be a part of our social norms nowadays. I find myself thinking that perhaps if even one person experiences the possibility, they in turn might give it a try as well.
ReplyDeleteLeigh, it is surprising that people are surprised. Although maybe, not so much: to your point, our social norm tends to start and end with me. It also makes me wonder if people truly understand that that can be kind without any need for a "reward".
DeleteI have found it a bit unsettling to see so much animosity on social media but when in the presence of the very same people, they only exhibit kindness. It sort of fuels my desire to only discuss divisive topics in person.
ReplyDeleteEd, this one of my biggest complaints about people in general and (I guess) my "side" in particular (Although much like the Ent Treebeard, I no longer find myself on any side because no-one is on my side). We have somehow come to accept this dichotomy that we can be angry and offensive (or verbally offended, I suppose) about some things and yet somehow this does not impact people's perception of the things we claim to believe.
DeleteAt least for myself, I try to ask the question "And if immediately I said I was a follower of Christ after this statement, how would that go?" It has reigned in some of my more excessive impulses.