Around my neighborhood, I have noticed signs popping up about kindness. Some say "Kindness Starts Here" and some say "Remember to Be Kind" or "Mourn with Those Who Mourn." These are pertinent admonishments for our troubled times. I just wonder why so many of us have forgotten what it is to be kind.
I listened to a Music and the Spoken Word message today on this topic. Lloyd Newell mentioned how so many of us have basically given up on humanity and have resorted to quarantining ourselves away from any social interactions. (I get the feeling that many of us won't know what to do when we finally get the green light to go out into society and actually have to talk to people face to face.)
He also said that people are basically good. Children are born into this world with the Light of Christ helping them naturally to do good. They are usually the first to share a treat or give aid when a friend gets hurt. Unfortunately, as they grow up, they may fall under the influence of bad examples.
A few years ago, I was researching ideas for a new Children's Theater Musical. I found a good story but still needed an summation statement to pull the plot together. Then it hit me. The main character, despite running into many snares and pitfalls, finds people who lend him a helping hand. He responds to their gestures of kindness and pledges himself to do likewise.
The finale song became "Let Kindness Begin with Me." Because this show is modeled after Old English Pantomime, the finale song needed to be catchy enough that the audience could join in a Sing-Along. At the premiere performance at the school, the experiment worked --- the audience indeed sang along!
As I was clearing away parts of the scenery the next day, some 6th grade boys saw me struggling. They said, "Can we help?" They were great helpers. They even sang parts of the songs they remembered from the show and told me how much they enjoyed seeing it.
That really renewed my faith in Humanity!
Kindness --- Pass it on!
I listened to a Music and the Spoken Word message today on this topic. Lloyd Newell mentioned how so many of us have basically given up on humanity and have resorted to quarantining ourselves away from any social interactions. (I get the feeling that many of us won't know what to do when we finally get the green light to go out into society and actually have to talk to people face to face.)
He also said that people are basically good. Children are born into this world with the Light of Christ helping them naturally to do good. They are usually the first to share a treat or give aid when a friend gets hurt. Unfortunately, as they grow up, they may fall under the influence of bad examples.
A few years ago, I was researching ideas for a new Children's Theater Musical. I found a good story but still needed an summation statement to pull the plot together. Then it hit me. The main character, despite running into many snares and pitfalls, finds people who lend him a helping hand. He responds to their gestures of kindness and pledges himself to do likewise.
The finale song became "Let Kindness Begin with Me." Because this show is modeled after Old English Pantomime, the finale song needed to be catchy enough that the audience could join in a Sing-Along. At the premiere performance at the school, the experiment worked --- the audience indeed sang along!
As I was clearing away parts of the scenery the next day, some 6th grade boys saw me struggling. They said, "Can we help?" They were great helpers. They even sang parts of the songs they remembered from the show and told me how much they enjoyed seeing it.
That really renewed my faith in Humanity!
Kindness --- Pass it on!
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