September 23, 2024
Happy Monday, my friends! Recently, Nicolle Wallace, a host and political analyst for MSNBC, referred to the jab of one politician[1] against another politician as “casual ugliness.” The offending politician has the dubious record of making small jabs at other people and generally being rude. We could easily apply the same term to many people in our political, religious, and social conversations. All too often our words descend into muddiness which would have been career-ending and reputation-ruining for people in the public eye less than 20 years ago. Those comments may still earn swift condemnation at our dinner tables and in small groups, but even in those spaces a casual ugliness often ensues. And lest any of my family members read this post and call me to task, yes, I have often been an offender of those kinds of comments and that kind of speech when the actual or proverbial cameras are off.
The fundamental element of a person’s character is what they do when no one is looking, what they do when there is no hope for recognition or reward. If “casual ugliness” describes the small mean comments made when many people are listening, then we need casual kindness more than ever. We need people who take the small actions simply because those actions are the right thing to do. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus discusses the judgement of people and discusses how the righteous are separated by their deeds, yet the righteous reply: “‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these siblings of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:37-40 NRSVUE with adaptations). This is casual kindness.
Where have you seen casual ugliness? How have you responded with casual kindness? How could you be more casually kind?
Let us pray: Jesus, you experienced the ugliness of human fear and the products of that fear when you were executed by leaders of empire and leaders of religion aligned with empire. You blessed those who offered you kindness and you continue to bless those who do good without recognition and without seeking any reward. Grant us the strength to embody kindness in a world that too often knows ugliness. Make us people of love in a world that experiences destruction. We ask this of you because you knew ugliness and kindness, destruction and love. Amen.
Blessings on your weeks, my friends! Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
Faithfully,
Ben
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