I recently came across a reference to a book called Enacting a Pedagogy of Kindness. It takes a bit of unpacking but what a brilliant title! The week I first noticed the book was quite a difficult one, and several folk arrived at our door with flowers, cards, and gifts. Such gestures of kindness are neither required nor obligated. It's the way people have learned to be, a habit of the heart, enacting gestures of kindness.
Another example. I regularly go for tea and a pastry to one of our favourite places. As always, I greeted the person serving us with "Hello, how are you doing today?" I went to pay and he said, "That's OK. This one's on me." I asked why. "Because you're the first person who asked how I was doing today. Thank you." But I didn't think, and don’t think I did anything out of the ordinary.
It occurs to me that kindness is really learned behaviour, intentional goodness. Like good efficient driving, or a practised golf swing, enacting kindness becomes second nature, a way of being. Other words help expand its meaning – thoughtfulness, friendliness, compassion, humanity, attentiveness, generosity, respect for persons.
So yes. It would make some difference in our neighbourhood, our culture and our society if we committed ourselves to Enacting a Pedagogy of Kindness! Can we train ourselves in adopting a disposition of kindness, forming habits of respect and thoughtfulness? And all the while making sure kindness is a practice, a daily enacting of who we are.
Enacting a Pedagogy of Kindness. Great title! Not original though. Jesus said as much in more familiar vocabulary, "Love your neighbour as yourself."
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