Day 15, Friday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey

Is God kind? It is easy for me to say “yes” at this point in my life when I am not experiencing any major disappointments, losses, frustrations, or tragedies. It’s easy to say “yes” when life seems to be going smoothly, when most things seem to be falling into their intended places. But upset the apple cart, let the winds of unwanted and unwelcome change blow in, and all of a sudden it isn’t so easy to say that God is kind. Challenging times might be refining me for God’s purposes, but what if I didn’t want refining? What if I was happy with things just the way they were?

Well, apart from how we may feel from moment to moment about God’s kindness, the fact remains that indeed, God is kind. One glaring example of this is the infinite patience God has had with the church over the years. There have been way too many moments throughout history when the church has inflicted horrific pain in people’s lives, so much so that, if I was God, I would have wiped it off the globe years ago. But God still blesses and uses the church for God’s mission in the world. God still baptizes us and gives us the body and blood of God’s son. In spite of our sinfulness, God forgives us over and over and over again. That’s some pretty impressive kindness.

Certainly the most radical display of that kindness took place at the crucifixion of Jesus. He was dying for those who accused him and wanted him dead. He was dying for those who beat him, whipped him, and spit on him. He was dying for those who drove the nails into his body. As he was experiencing our worst, he was displaying God’s best, and that best was kindness.

Yes, God is kind; unbelievably kind. And, as those baptized into Christ, we are called to be the kindness of God in the world at all times. We won’t do it perfectly. We may even get it wrong more often than we will get it right, but the call remains, because we know the blessing of kindness in our lives. We know the world is starving for this kindness of God.