Brian’s Reflection: Saturday, February 16, 2008


You cannot be too gentle, too kind.
Shun even to appear harsh in your
treatment of each other. Joy, radiant
joy, streams from the face of one who
gives and kindles joy in the heart of
one who receives.

- St. Seraphim of Sarov


I have begun to be able to see that harshness does indeed come from an unhappiness within the human heart. Most of us would like to think it comes from righteousness, or from an awareness of the misfortune or mistreatment of others. But really it comes from our own sense of mistreatment.

Gentleness and kindness are the gifts of at least two things. Of someone who has let go, even in the face of mistreatment. And of a gift received of self-acceptance and self-worth. The latter we must grant ourselves, even if it is held out to us by Another.

I am wondering. Can behaving gently, and being kind, be a “sacrament”? In their visibility, will they bring about their invisible grace? I think so – as long as one is being genuine. And how does one get there? Can it be by an act of the will? Someone, I think not.

I think one has to be surprised by Joy. It is a gift that we human beings give to each other.

Brian+