Kindness Is A Simple Thing!

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.(Jn. 14:27)

Yesterday I left you with this thought:  Jesus came to bring shalom to all the earth!  What does that truly mean?

I had no takers!  

Maybe that is because peace is such an illusive concept in this peace-less world.  Or maybe it is because you just don’t know what  peace truly is.  

Maybe the questions, that are more to the point, are :  How does peace happen?  Or what must be done to make a peaceful world?  

Or?  Is peace all that important?   What does it get me to try to make peace when the major population of the  world doesn’t seem — seem — to give-a-rip?  

Possibility that is why Jesus wasn’t very popular with the powers that be in the ancient world.  

And more to the point, why Jesus is not so popular with the world leaders of today.

Peace is passé!  No longer fashionable!  Out of date!

Just maybe all of that it true!  Maybe!

However, I am not convinced that peace is not an impossible prospect for our lives.  At least our individual lives!  It is certainly not impossible for those who care to follow Jesus.  To find away to develop peace — promote peace, offer peace — within their own homes; and the environment they live in.  And, maybe that is all we can do.  Just make our little corner of the world a better place to be.

Here is a simple example of how we can offer Jesus’ peace.  I was talking on the phone, with a former member of the church I served, yesterday.  She now lives in Kanas in an assisted living community.  Gertrude is 92 years old.  Her mind is as sharp as a twelve year old.  She walks everyday without the aid of a walker.  What she was telling me was that no one else walks without help there.  So one of the simple things she does, is to help those who need help.  Like at the lunch table.  One woman needs to have someone make sure her wheelchair is brought to her after the meal.  Gertrude makes sure she has her wheelchair  before she leave the dining area. 

I told her: “Jesus would like that!”

Another simple gesture: There is a woman in the community that make others feel uncomfortable. Her face is strange and she is not able to create conversation.  She can answer if you talk to her; but otherwise she is silent.  Gertrude always makes a point of greeting her.  

Kindness matters!  

Kindness is a peace maker!

I do not believe that kindness is a difficult thing for most of us to offer others.  That is just one way we can be active in Jesus’ mission.  

And that small act of kindness brings joy to others!

“Joy the world, the Lord has come!”  In us!