Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
“In self-examination, take no account of yourself by your thoughts and resolutions in the days of religion and solemnity; examine how it is with you in the days of ordinary conversation and in the circumstances of secular employment.”
Jeremy Taylor (1612-1667) in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 117.
Few places in the world have more traffic and chaos in the ordinary and secular spaces of life than India. Look at the size of the land mass that holds 1.5 billion people.
Imagine the need for kindness and compassion here!
On my arrival at 2:00 AM in Hyderabad, no driver welcomed me. After multiple calls to the hotel, my ride arrived after 3:00 AM. It was hard to maintain my composure.
Eventually I learned that the car of the driver had broken down on the way to collect me.
I got this message from an African friend while waiting: “The delay at the airport was for His glory. Thank you so much for all you do in advancing the kingdom of God.”
I recounted that my kindness and compassion to the driver in Jamaica led him to give his life to Jesus Christ. I examine that I need to keep this in the front of my mind in the ordinary and secular spaces here.
As I type this, I am sitting in my hotel in Mumbai, a city bustling with 22 million people, about to go walk on a treadmill, then eat breakfast, and go speak at a conference..
I am realizing that whether I speak at a governance conference or to a hotel manager, everyone needs a generous amount of kindness and compassion.
God make me a conduit of blessing to India for your glory. Make every reader a conduit of blessing wherever they are for your glory. In your mercy, hear our prayers.