September 2022 Monthly Letter
Dear Reconcilers,
Have you ever told someone that they are a kind person? Have you ever been told that you are a kind person? I am reading an article by Rich Harwood from the Harwood institute titled “The Urgent Need for Acts of Loving Kindness.” He mentions that as he travels the country, he hears people from all walks of life, from all political persuasions, from all faiths, and from all income levels lament the state of our nation.
However, we are all part of our nation. What can we do as individuals to make the state of our nation better? Unfortunately, many of us fail to see and hear each other. We have forgotten the value of one another. Today, we urgently need more individual acts of loving kindness.
The following are a few ways Harwood suggests we can show loving kindness:
- Saying hello to a stranger
- Holding the door for another person
- Offering your seat to someone on public transit
- Giving a compliment
- Visiting the sick
- Buying the person near you a meal
I know we can all think of many additional ways we can show kindness to others. Rich Harwood acknowledges that these acts may not bring about the transformational societal change we would like to see, but they will lift spirits and make us more human. Doing acts of kindness is a good place to start in helping to bring about positive change.
On June 23, 2022, we attended the 49th Annual Police and Citizens Award Ceremony at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, California. We were excited to be at this event and to see our son being honored for 25 years of service as a police officer. Although my wife was not happy he chose this profession, she gave him her blessing after he told her he always wanted to help people. Not only do police officers serve their communities, they risk their lives to do it.
After the ceremony, we got to meet several of his co-workers. Just like a lot of parents, we raised our children to be kind and respect others. We were very impressed when several times we were told that our son was a very kind person. One lady remarked, “We didn’t know your dad was a pastor. Is that why you are so kind?”
Later that day, we asked our son why so many of his co-workers think he is kind? He said in learning his job, he realized he needed help. To get help, you can’t be rude or disrespectful to people. Being kind to people is contagious and it comes back to you like a boomerang. The kinder you are to people, the more likely they are to help you when needed. This is just one of the many lessons he has learned in serving as a police office for 25 years.
Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” As Reconcilers, we are continuously doing acts of kindness. So the next time someone tells you that you are very kind person, say thank you, because you are making a difference.
Thank you for your support to help keep this ministry going during these difficult times. You have our sincere gratitude and deep appreciation.
