thoughts on the news of the day: mean

hmmm….

            A Somali born teenager was stopped from blowing up a van full of explosives in Portland, Oregon during a crowded Christmas tree lighting celebration. Federal authorities said that the explosives were duds that were supplied by agents and that the crowd was never really in danger.

            “You, all you’re ever gonna be is mean.  Why you gotta be so mean?” go the lyrics to a song on the new Taylor Swift album titled “Speak Now”.  What compels a person to be hurtful? What motivates a person to want to destroy something just because its there?  Why are some people bullies? 

            When I was leaving Arkansas to go to seminary many years ago, I walked down a hall in my daughter’s elementary school and saw a sign on a blackboard; it was like a farewell gift to take with me on my new journey.  The message read:  “There are many things you will regret in life, but you will never regret having been kind.”           

            We may regret not accomplishing something; we may regret being mean to someone else for no real reason other than we were in a bad mood.  We may regret saying something, or not saying something because it was the right thing to do.  But we will never regret the kindness and mercy we show to another person, no matter what the circumstance.

            We might feel momentary righteousness for revenge on a bully; but kindness? It’s an action we will never regret.

            hmmm…..