@bethvogt
Did you hear about former president George W. Bush sitting next to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres at an NFL football game this past weekend between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers?
There was quite a Twitter controversy about it. People were upset, wondering why a gay Hollywood liberal was sitting next to a conservative Republican president.
DeGeneres talked about it on her self-named afternoon talk show. A lot of truth laced with her trademark humor. I applaud what she had to say:
“… I’m friends with George Bush. In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different and I think that we’ve forgotten that we’re all different …. When I say ‘be kind to one another,’ I don’t mean only the people that think the same way you do. I mean be kind to everyone. It doesn’t matter.”
Here’s the thing: I know people who would sit beside George W. Bush at a football game. And I know people who would sit beside Ellen DeGeneres – maybe hoping for a chance to pull some dance moves with her. I also know people who would sit between them, excited to talk to both Bush and DeGeneres. And I know people who wouldn’t enter that private box (they were invited to the game by the owner of the Dallas Cowboys) because either Bush was there or DeGeneres was there.
As DeGeneres pointed out, somehow, someway, we’re forgetting that we’re all different. Or maybe we’ve made our differences a bad thing. (I may get some comments on that sentence.) Let me clarify: We may not agree with someone’s life choices, but does that mean someone is so different from us that there’s not enough kindness to bridge the gap stretching between us?
Which brings to mind an extraordinary act of kindness that made the news last week. Police officer Amber Guyer received a hug from the brother of the man that she’d been convicted of killing. A hug and words of love.
Kindness? Yes. An act of grace? Absolutely.
BE KIND TO EVERYONE.
Nowadays we seem to so easily forget how to be kind – but we have no problem remembering how to be angry.
Let’s not leap past these media moments like sound bites to be debated – applauded or criticized, depending on your viewpoint.
Let’s remember this: Kindness. For everyone.
Remember to be Kind ... And Forget to be Angry http://bit.ly/2MCz8EP #bekind #perspective Click To Tweet 'Always be a little kinder than necessary. Click To Tweet
Comments 8
There is one important thing
that I try hard to remember
when I feel disdain take wing,
that every friend was once a stranger.
I really see enough of me
when I look in the mirror,
so as for friends, let them be
diverse and odd and queerer.
Let me thus extend my hand;
ungloved, and not mailed fist,
and let me try to understand
what I’m tempted to resist.
And let me get past my surprise
that I’m the weirdo in their eyes.
Beth, could you please keep Barb in prayer? Her da’s in the process of pegging out, and she’s hurting.
Author
Andrew, my friend, thank you for your poetical insights today. And yes, I will keep you and Barb in my prayers.
Great post and love your title. You have a gift, which I already knew. I’m believing for such “unusual” friendship connections to become so common they’re not news any more.
Author
Dee: I love your hope that such “unusual” friendships will become so normal they’re not newsworthy. 🙂
I truly wish more people had Ellen DeGeneres’ attitude. Maybe it will be catching! Great post.
Author
Pat: Our attitudes,our choices, influence other people. Kindness begets kindness. I’m hopeful.
I saw that on Twitter yesterday! And yes, that was so cool! If Christ could show forgiveness to the angry mob shouting for his death, then who are we to hold a grudge. We’re called to model God’s love, not their hate.
I’ve had a sign in my kitchen with the message Kindness Matters long before someone started hashtagging it.
That Golden Rule is always the right thing to do