(Trigger Warning: mentions of rape, abuse, child abuse.)
Kindness, compassion, and mercy are such underrated values these days. We like to talk about them, quote inspirational messages about them, but where is the true kindness? Television shows and movies often portray violence as virtue. As much violence exists in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, the writers of Game of Thrones decided the story needed more pain and suffering, often against the most oppressed parties. Movies where violence is portrayed as the best alternative are often the most popular.
We see this leak into our lives. Violence is viewed as a natural way of dealing with things. It is becoming conflated with justice. It is something people are feeling entitled to. We know how this can end. Mass shootings are something many can agree is what happens when this is taken to the extreme. People feel entitled to their rage, so entitled to it that they think it is their right to take out their anger on innocents. We see this in rape culture as well. Rape is not about sex, it is not about a "lack of self-control", it is about power and control. Someone feels entitled to another person's body. We see this in domestic abuse. A spouse gets angry and feels entitled to take it out on the other person. A parent get angry and feels entitled to take it out on their child. They feel as if the pain they inflict is owed to them. As if it is "justice" for them. These are all extreme examples, but we see them on smaller scales, as well. What can we expect from a world where we don't value kindness? Where we put our desires before other's needs.
We don't do the small things that could help out a whole lot, we feel entitled to our time. We value OUR time over other's. Someone drops something and then decides they are "too busy" to clean it up. Now it is up to the store's employees who already have a million things to do, or up to the city who has to set up clean-up programs that have trouble keeping up with all the trash blowing around the city and its outskirts. We spill a little water and think, "It's water. It won't leave stickiness or a stain so it's fine." But a puddle of water on the floor can be dangerous. Someone can slip and hurt an ankle, or worse, hit their head. These little things we don't do that seem harmless can have huge consequences.
None of us are above helping. None of us are above kindness. How much does it cost to make sure your trash makes it to the can? How much does it cost to clean up your spill? How much does it cost to offer your help? How much does it cost to do a good turn? How much does it cost to listen to someone's story? How much does it cost to empathize with someone's pain? Is a healthier earth not worth it? Is avoiding someone's slipping and getting injured not worth it? Is easing another's burden not worth it? Is a child's smile not worth it? What was the worst moment in your life? If someone had done something to ease the burdens you were facing, even if it was something small, would that not have made such a difference? Maybe putting our own selfishness aside and thinking about how our actions or inaction can affect others is one of the best things we can do. Maybe valuing kindness over violence is one of the best things our world can witness. Maybe mercy is what we need so much. Create peace in our little piece of the world and spread it where we can. Maybe this is the bravest thing we can do.
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
--Galatians 6:2
--Galatians 6:2
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