Greetings!

I hope you had a good and rest-filled weekend. That is not a clichéd opening line, might I add. I seriously hope you did, because life seems these days to be a sprint-marathon with neither a finish line nor the possibility of a trophy in view. Well, that latter observation may not be altogether true. We have a promise from One who does not lie; in whose hands are our times; whose modus operandi, issues from the essence of His being which is love, that there is much more/better than our present [broken and painful] reality, to be experienced now in this life and in the age to come. It is a promise that has been reiterated in both Testaments of the Judeo-Christian scriptures. See for example Genesis 8:22; Habakkuk 2:2 – 4; Psalm 23; John 14:2 cf.1 Corinthians 15:19; 2 Corinthians 5: 1 – 3. So my hope for goodness, peace and rest for you is not some pie in the sky wish, left to a chance occurrence, no! My hope is that as we…you and I continue to place our whole trust in the grace, mercy and love of Almighty God, even in the desert of our present realities, we will locate and experience, streams that refresh and renew us for the onward journey.

One of the ways in which we experience such refreshment and renewal is through the graced gift of kindness. Now that may seem like an all too obvious observation and yet, very often it remains a reality hidden in plain sight, either because of our reticence to engage it or the fact of a blinkered outlook, one that is incapable of perceiving the vistas of possibilities, beyond the cramped spaces of our various and sundry woes. Yes, there is a way in which kindness is the glue that cements and holds together, many of our broken pieces, be they tangible objects, a flagging spirit or frayed emotions, not beyond mending.

Recently, while addressing the UN general assembly, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, spoke with much passion, challenging those gathered, in the words of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, about having the chutzpah, amidst all that is flawed and broken in the world, to get up and stand up for our rights. It was a clarion call to say the least, for those with the capacity and wherewithal, to put serious and long overdue action to the years of incessant talk. In her speech, she mentioned talking with her British counterpart about words often heard at train stations in the UK, words that should raise up for world leaders, a very poignant and eloquent image, especially in light of the widening disparity between those countries and nations that have and those that do not have, the resources and wherewithal to ensure a decent standard of living for their people. The words are, yes you guessed it…Mind the Gap!

As a student in London in the late 1980’s travelling back and forth on the ‘tube,’ those words became something of a mantra; not only have they stayed with me as a precaution to watch where I am going, they continue in many respects, to challenge my approach to life and living. It has become clear that in as much as the gap represents that which is problematic on the negative side, it also serves to highlight that which is possible, on the positive side. To Mind the Gap therefore, is to be aware of pitfalls but also to find creative ways and means of preventing them becoming death traps. It is embracing i.e. living within  a consciousness that recognizes that since ‘no man is an island, no man stands alone,’ choosing daily, to live by the dictates of the golden rule, is to ensure for oneself and others, safe passage in navigating life’s many and varied pathways.

In my very brief life of sixty-one years [o.k., go ahead, you have my permission to laugh], I have found that kindness is a significant bridger of gaps. I make reference here of the ability to allow divinely inspired deposits of goodness within one, to be extended beyond self, via hands, words or whatever medium may be necessary, to touch another, in a place or at a point where it is most needed. The truth is many times we refrain from extending ourselves because of fear. We are afraid that we will not be able to sustain it or worse, that our overtures may be misconstrued or downright rejected. Well, experience has taught me that even with such fears, showing/expressing kindness to others, especially those without the wherewithal to return the favor, does not only stop a gap, it creates a pathway that channels the flow of whatever is needed, with the kind of long-term effect, that can never be quantified! I would love to share with you how the kindness of others, in this strange yet beautiful season, has become a mainstay in my life but, that’s for the sequel…

So until next week, continue to stay safe and well as you remain in the grip of the One whose kindness is beyond measure.

Grace+