Try A Little Kindness

'Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgive you.' Colossians 3:12-13

My friend, Dr William Wan, pastor, theologian, lawyer is the General Secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement. This movement was formed in 1997 with the aim of encouraging daily acts of kindness. It was felt that it is timely to invest some effort to promote kindness so as to achieve a more gracious Singaporean society. Probably the Singapore government realised that in an urban and fast-living environment, there is not much time nor attention left to care about anyone else other than oneself. 

But kindness has its rewards. Remember your childhood Aesop Fable of the Lion and the Mouse? 

A timid mouse chanced upon a lion sleeping in the forest. It ran across the lion's nose hoping to cross the lion but woke the sleeping beast instead. Woken up from his nap, the angry lion caught the mouse by its tail. The mouse begged for mercy stating that if it was spared it will repay the kindness someday. The lion, amused that a little mouse could ever help the king of the beasts, nevertheless felt kind and let the little mouse go.

Some days later the lion was caught in the coils of a poacher's net. Unable to break himself free, he roared ferociously to no avail. Realising that the lion was in distress the tiny mouse ran to his aid. Looking at the net that entrapped the lion, the mouse started to gnaw at the coils. Eventually the ropes burst and the lion was set free. 

The lesson from Aesop was  'No Act of Kindness No Matter How Small is Wasted' and many a parent taught her children kindness by reading this story to them.

It is strange to think that kindness can be taught. Why feature a kindness movement in a successful and prosperous city like Singapore? Should we think that teaching kindness is only meant for children?  That these little things and acts do not matter for adults? Adults can easily skip the small acts of kindness as  we aspire to so more significant deeds. Unfortunately we will miss this Sesame Street lesson - 'If you try a little kindness, you'll be surprised how good it makes you feel'.  

When William took on a leadership role in the Singapore Kindness Movement I was surprised. After so many years in Christian ministry in very exacting leadership positions, why take on a namby-pamby job promoting kindness? Then I realised that kindness is the anchor act of Christian love. How would we love our neighbour as God commanded us if not to show kindness? 

Loving one's neighbour is not just a sentimental response. It is the practical giving of one's self and its shows the love we have for others. In Matthew 25:34-36 Jesus said that acts of kindness will be the evidence of our Christianity,

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and you invited me in,

I needed clothes and you clothed me,

I was sick and you looked after me,

I was in prison and you came to visit me. 

And so, my good friend William got it right. If you want to be a good Christian, try a little kindness.

If you see your brother standing by the road

With a heavy load from the seeds he sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and say, "You're going the wrong way"

You've 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

In the same way John Wesley taught his followers, the Methodists to do good deeds, in an almost feverish pitch:

Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.

Lionel