by Father Mark Goldasich
A couple of weeks ago, something disturbing happened at the bowling alley. While talking to some friends on another team, a bowler behind us shouted at a woman who was leaving. These weren’t friendly words. At one point, the angry guy even threw his baseball cap, which landed behind us. We slowly moved away from him, our eyes wide and frightened.
Sadly, this was one more example that we’ve lost the art of being civil to one another. I’m shocked at the nastiness that is regularly seen both in texts and in online comments. And if we can’t be civil even in person, is it any wonder that kindness seems to be a lost art?
Each day, I get a quick, spiritual “hit” from a book published annually by The Christophers called “Three Minutes a Day.” The entry for March 8 was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Entitled “A Superhero in More Ways Than One,” the story concerned a boy named Brody, the 12-year-old son of Cassandra Cooper. He’d come home from school upset because hardly anyone signed his middle school yearbook.
Here’s the story as reported by NJ.com:
Cassandra wrote on social media: “My poor son . . . 2 teachers and a total of 2 students wrote in his yearbook. Despite Brody asking all kinds of kids to sign it. . . . My heart is shattered. Teach your kids kindness.”
Actor Paul Rudd, who plays superhero Ant-Man in Marvel movies, heard about Brody’s story, called him via FaceTime, then sent him a follow-up letter stating, “It’s important to remember that even when life is tough that things get better. There are so many people that love you and think you’re the coolest kid there is — me being one of them!”
Brody and his mother were beyond excited that Rudd reached out to them. Brody told Rudd, “[You’re] my favorite superhero.”
Rudd responded, “You’re mine.” (Story found in Volume 60.)
Bravo, Paul Rudd! The actor, who spent his formative years in Overland Park, is someone whose kind heart was surely molded here in the Heartland.
It cost Rudd nothing but a little time to reach out to this mom and boy who were hurting. But his interaction with them will always be treasured.
One of my favorite expressions is: “Be kind. You never know what someone else might be going through.” As we approach the midpoint of Lent, maybe this could be a way to practice almsgiving each day and remind people that they matter, that they have dignity, that we’re all children of God.
The website happify.com suggests these simple, easy-to-do ways to practice kindness:
• Use your manners by saying “please” and “thank you,” especially to those whose service we take for granted.
• Smile, especially at strangers. Watch as both of your faces light up.
• Use your coins for change. Fill those Lenten Rice Bowls to overflowing.
• Forego texting (at least occasionally) and call someone instead. Savor hearing the voice of a relative or friend.
• Help someone in a small way by holding a door open, letting someone ahead of you in line or sharing an umbrella.
• Be lavish with compliments; stingy with criticism.
• Get on the ARK. Make doing Acts of Random Kindness a habit. It’s even more fun if the recipient doesn’t know who is doing the kindness.
• Be kind to yourself by getting enough rest, eating healthier, exercising and talking to yourself with gentleness.
The Christophers’ motto is: “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” May our kindness to one another start to light up the world. I think I’ll begin by packing a few candles in my bowling bag.
