The Choice: Cold Love or Kindness

Belonging to a community of people--it seems over the years some disappear and no one knows where they went to or why they left.  Days, weeks, and months will go by without anyone asking how they are or how their souls are being nurtured.  It seems no one cares. Maybe I do not care enough? This is totally against what Jesus taught when he said, “Love your neighbour.”  Who is your neighbour if you do not even miss them when they are gone?

I have been wrestling with the whole concept of loving one another and how is loving one another really suppose to look like in the context of church community.  How do we reach out when someone has left for a long period of time? Or reach out to those who are hurting? Or those who are lonely?

Tonight when I arrived home from a long day of doing what I love to do, there was a message on my phone.  It was a delight to listen to the voice message from the leader of a small intercessory group which I belong.  She phoned to encourage me and edify my part in the group even when I can not make it.  I felt acknowledged and part of the small community.  We all need to know we belong, we are missed, and we are loved. 

I attended a Steve Bell concert this week, he introduced his new album titled, Kin`dness.  The root for kindness is kin, and even if we do not like those who are in community with us we are still kin…connected, especially those in Christian communities.  We are to show kindness and love to all.  As I sat in the concert I realized there were people around me who I had been disconnected with over the years, but in reality we were still connected in Christ.  I decided I needed to reach out to those who I have lost contact with.  A card with a small note enclosed will speak volumes to another heart.

Years ago, I read a book that talked about cold love being in the church.  At the time, the church I belonged to was going through a church split and the love in people’s hearts displayed true coldness, not kindness or the love that is found in Christ.  When people were approached with how they were reacting to each other, questions were dismissed with the human logic that they deserved what has happened to them.  Can this really be the way it is?  Have we not all been misguided at one time or another?  Is it not true kindness and community we need in times when we have messed up?

My questioning has me pondering how can we as a community of Christ followers love well those who may be different than us, have different views than us, or fail in our view to live up to our standards?  My conclusion: Kindness and love can heal wounds. 

I would like to end with Brian McLaren’s song/poem titled, “Kindness.” 

Christ has no body here but ours

No hands no feet here on earth but ours

Ours are the eyes through which he looks

On this world with kindness

Ours are the hands through which he works

Our are the feet on which he moves

Ours are the voices through which he speaks

To this world with kindness

Through our touch, our smile, our listening ear

Embodied in us, Jesus is living here

Let us go now, inspirited

Into this world with kindness

The choice daily is ours, will we let our hearts grow cold believing people do not need our kindness?  Or will we choose to love and reach out to those who have left our communities with a kind word and touch of love?  I believe we are called to be Christ to this broken world and it begins within our own communities. 

"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."  Matthew 24:12 

Pax 

Robin