Challenged by Kindness
Natalie McClatchey
I recently watched a TV series called ‘Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat’. The premise of this reality show was that a man believed he was taking part in a documentary for a temporary role with a hot sauce company. The documentary was to be filmed while the employees were away from the office on a team building exercise during a restructure.
Anthony had no idea that everyone on the retreat was an actor, and he was placed in all manner of bizarre situations, which he handled with stunning poise and grace. He was surrounded by what I can only describe as misfits and weirdos, who intentionally acted strangely to elicit a reaction.
Not once did Anthony roll his eyes or speak a word of unkindness. Granted he knew he was being filmed, and was probably savvy enough to treat the week at the bogus company as an extended interview process, but it caused me to pose the question to myself: ‘in his shoes, would I have been so kind?’
I am ashamed to say, probably not.
I spent most of my youth feeling like I didn’t fit in. Labelled nerdy, my friendships were either on the fringe of, or completely outside the ‘cool’ group. Fearing bullying and exclusion, I developed a strong adult instinct to avoid social suicide.
To my shame, Anthony modelled Christ-likeness in his fictional workplace. He helped colleagues who embarrassed themselves or behaved questionably. He gave his time to cover for the mistakes of others. He was inclusive of people who lacked fashion sense and social skills. He was a true hero.
And he reminded me of the way I should be, and am often not – like Jesus.
We see in the gospels Jesus ridiculed by the religious establishment for the company He kept. The Pharisees were the ‘mean girls’ of Jerusalem. In Matthew 9:11, they asked the disciples, “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cosy with crooks and misfits?” (MSG).
He touched a leper, rendering Himself ceremonially unclean (Matthew 8:3). He had time for children, women, prostitutes, beggars, lowly fishermen, and others (Gentiles and Samaritans) who were culturally inappropriate to associate with.
While the example of Jesus sometimes feels unattainable (after all, while fully man, He was also fully God), the example of Anthony reminds me that kindness is not only possible, but should be a hallmark of my faith.
I see, and am challenged by, kindness every day: from the car flashing its lights on Wetherby Road to let someone in, to the teacher’s assistant working alongside the student who is crashing out. Kindness is everywhere, but oh Lord, never enough in me!
Romans 2:4 says that “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.”
Seeing this in others who don’t know Jesus has certainly led me to repent! It is my humble prayer that the Holy Spirit will continue to inspire me, by the light of Christ that I see in others, to reflect His very great kindness to a world that needs Him.
