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Message from the Clerks - January

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Message from the Clerks - January with a photo the peace pole surrounded by snow with the Lake Forest Friends Meetinghouse in the background

Kindness

“Kindness inspires love.” This short, yet profound sentence is found on page 757 of Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language, College Edition. I was looking up the word “inspire” (a verb) because I was looking for “inspiration” (a noun). And wouldn’t you know... I found it!

“Kindness inspires love.” is used in this dictionary as an example of definition no. 5 of the verb “inspire”; “to arouse or produce (a thought or a feeling): as, “kindness inspires love.”

The truth within the words is revealed to each of us, not in logical argument but in experience of acts of kindness done to us and for us. We know it is true because we have experienced it in our lives. That is, I hope we all have experienced kindness in our lives through the tender ministrations of family, friends, colleagues, or even strangers. If there is even one who has not, it is to the shame of our human community that this could be so. For what is the source of kindness in the world? Do we not learn kindness through
experience, which generates in us not just the joy and freedom and nourishment of it, but also the impetus to share such kindness with others?

Kindness is one of those things that builds upon itself. A kind act is at its best when done with no expectation of return or compensation. A free gift, generously given, with no strings attached. An act of kindness not only brightens the eyes of the receiver, but of the giver as well. It brings joy where there is no joy, hope where there is no hope, peace where there is no peace. It expands the creative space inside the giver and the receiver and feeds the soul of each. Kindness inspires love.

Think about the gifts of kindness you have received in your life. Think about the gifts of kindness you have freely given to others. Think about how both have made you feel. Now let’s resolve to show kindness in all the ways we can throughout this new year and thereby inspire love. For, as has been said before, what the world needs now is love.

By Chuck Dickson on behalf of the LFFM Clerking Team

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