“The poor are the center of the Church. But who are the poor? At first we might think of people who are not like us: people who live in slums, people who go to soup kitchens, people who sleep on the streets, people in prisons, mental hospitals, and nursing homes. But the poor can be very close. They can be in our own families, churches or workplaces. Even closer, the poor can be ourselves, who feel unloved, rejected, ignored, or abused.
It is precisely when we see and experience poverty – whether far away, close by, or in our own hearts – that we need to become the Church; that is, hold hands as brothers and sisters, confess our own brokenness and need, forgive one another, heal one another’s wounds, and gather around the table of Jesus for the breaking of the bread. Thus, as the poor we recognise Jesus, who became poor for us” (Henri Nouwen).
I can only think to add one thing– be kind to everyone you meet, for every single person is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Every single person has one past event, one scar, one wound, one story that if you knew it, would completely and radically change the way you looked at them.
Be kind to everyone, even those who think and vote differently than you. Every single person has reasons for what they do and why they do it. Just because someone has a different viewpoint than you doesn’t make them automatically wrong or evil. In fact, it’s good to take in different perspectives, so as to help you avoid myopic narrow-mindedness and pharisaical judgmentalism.
Be kind, but not a doormat. Be kind, but be assertive. Be kind, but don’t ever sell out your convictions or beliefs. Be kind, but be wise and discerning.
Above all, be kind because you might be the one who need it the most.
