Monday, January 9, 2012

Civility: Week 2-January 9, 2012


“Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind, and the third is to be kind.” ~ Henry James
  Whew, got through one week working on my civility. Caught myself several times starting to blurt something not too civil or Christian...but I did at least catch myself.  I think I rolled my eyes once at something...but that was all.

  So to continue in the vein of the quote above, what does kindness have to do with being civil?
The definition of a kindness can also mean being civil. Usually an act of kindness we think of as being something special we do someone, bake cookies, give them a ride. But an act of kindness can also mean not doing something, like telling them off when they have insulted us.

  Being civil is like Jesus telling us to turn the other cheek. We’re not setting ourselves up for abuse, we are just trying to give the other person the benefit of the doubt. The benefit that maybe they are having a really bad day and don’t mean to take it out on us. The benefit that they are mad at someone else they can’t ream out and we were just in the target.

  Being civil means we have to stop and think about our words, instead of striking out in an emotional barrage of anger and hurt.

   It’s hard!

   We aren’t exactly trained for that in our society. In our world of social media, instant messaging, quick on the draw call anyone, text and report or video tape anyone doing almost any bad behavior, sometimes our quickness leaves little room for discretion.

  And being civil means having a sense of discretion that what we are about to say, write or do will possibly last forever, if not on the airwaves, paper, at least in someone else’s mind and heart.  Obviously the media people who made fun of Mr. Santorum's family grieving for a stillborn baby need to think before ever opening their mouths again. Before I get really uncivil toward them, I'll just end by saying I'm working on praying for them.

  So, just like the quote above, we need to remember to be kind, be kind again, and just in case, be kind some more. 
  It works you know...


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