Being KIND can be defined as having a good or benevolent nature or disposition; being compassionate and humane. The antonyms (opposites) of KIND include being atrocious, barbaric or cruel*. We as a species are known as MANKIND. Ponder for a moment whether the notion of being kind has any merit as part of our nature.
Here is a parable of unknown origin. It contains what I believe is a simple but profound truth:
An old man says to his grandson: ‘There’s a fight going on inside me. It’s a terrible fight between two wolves. One is cruel – angry, greedy, jealous, arrogant, and cowardly. The other is kind – peaceful, loving, modest, generous, honest, and trustworthy. These two wolves are also fighting within you, and inside every other person too.’ After a moment, the boy asks, ‘Which wolf will win?’ The old man smiles. ‘The one you feed.’
It is interesting when world travellers like Michael Palin summarize their travel lessons: what is their almost universal recollection? They are profoundly impressed by acts of unconditional kindness from total strangers (and I can certainly confirm that conclusion from my travels). Yet, when we are at home, do we always think kindly of our unfamiliar neighbours, or our community at large? We can feed our cruel wolf a diet of judgement or suspicion about our fellow community members. And then we find confirming evidence to reinforce our prior prejudices and misgivings. Does it need to be so?
Our kind wolf, unfortunately, does not get out enough. Random acts of kindness are its favourite food. The human spirit has a special design feature which makes being charitable one of the most powerful elixirs to lift our spirits. Our kind wolf does not need much food to become fully active and overwhelm our unkind wolf. Once kindness is in play, it is amazing how much power it has against any foe. Our cruel nature is actually very weak, it has a lot of energy but not much endurance, and it can easily be overcome by compassion.
So which wolf will YOU feed: the kind one, or the cruel one?
*: Merriam-Webster dictionary
Reflection Source: www.Smallercup.org
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