Two things come to me that reminded me of a blog I posted earlier this year entitled “Be Kind”. First, I was reading “Becoming Wise” by Krista Tippett, my favorite of many wonderful NPR voices, and she shared an author’s description of Dorothy Day the renowned founder of the Catholic Worker. The author said about Dorothy Day;
“She thought it possible for a society to be different than it is because she thought that we’re naturally orientated to love. We’re made to love one another. Strife and war are a deformity of that. But what we’re created for is to love one another and to love one another in community. She was a radical and a formidable organizer, but she was always clear that it was not a programmatic effort that got the Catholic Worker going. It was people doing what came naturally, which was loving one another in community and talking about it.”
I hope loving those around you each and every day is what comes natural to you.
The second thing that got me thinking about my “Be Kind” blog was an interaction I just had at the bar of the DC airport. I was on my way back home after an up and back in the same day meeting for Home Matters, a national movement to raise awareness on the power of home – www.homemattersamerica.com. I have about 30 minutes prior to boarding so I find the last seat at the bar near gate 44 and National Airport in DC. I order my beer, make a few calls, check my email and all the while a young woman is hand washing glasses and plates directly in front of me. She has a look of seriousness mixed with I have been doing this job for a while now. Not mean but not happy either. Other employees whisk past her not speaking. By the time she washes, dries and restacks everything another load is waiting for her. Her nametag said Lisa. As I get up to leave I lean toward her and say “Lisa, thanks for what you do”. A smile as big and bright as I have seen in a long time appears on that serious face. She says thanks you in the sincerest way possible. I smile back and she tells me to have a good flight. Truth be told I think I got as much joy out of her response as she did from my thanks. It is so easy to be kind please try to each and every day.
Here is my blog from earlier this year
