A simple act of kindness

JULIAN of Norwich wrote in the 14th century: “I saw God to be our true peace who keeps us safe when we are anything but peaceful. Who always works to bring us to everlasting peace.”

One of the problems of our modern world is our communications system.

We can see news from every part of the world instantly. We see and hear of dreadful events every day. I get very upset at the great cruelty inflicted on people and animals throughout the world. I do my best to support organisations and agencies which are trying to solve some of these problems. However I find the unbearable suffering that I witness sometimes too great and I turn the television off. At that point I need to turn to God and seek the help that I can only find in God. We need to trust in God.

Loving our neighbour as ourselves is the most important thing we can do in life.

It is important that we love ourselves because if we cannot love ourselves how can we love others?

Quakers have an advice: “Take heed, dear Friends, to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts. Trust them as the leadings of God."

We all of us experience these promptings. When we respond to these leadings we are responding to the grace of God. A simple act of kindness can have consequences beyond ourselves and our simple act. Even simply a smile can have a great effect.

Eleven years ago I was travelling every day on the buses around Keighley looking for a house to buy.

I remember getting on a bus in Oakworth Road and the driver speaking to me and addressing me as sir!

He was exceedingly civil and friendly and his simple greeting has remained with me since.

It was a simple thing but it was a great thing too. In our simple acts of kindness each day we can be agents of God's love and peace.