A Time to Kneel
“A desire to kneel down sometimes pulses through my body, or rather it is as if my body has been meant and made for the act of kneeling. Sometimes, in moments of deep gratitude, kneeling down becomes an overwhelming urge, head deeply bowed, my hands before my face.” ~ Etty Hillesum
There was a deep peace in the heart of Etty Hillesum. She wrote extensively about her love for fellow human beings while being persecuted and awaiting the certain fate of deportation from her home in Amsterdam during World War II. She was one of 1.1 million who died at Auschwitz concentration camp but her faith in God and people live on in the many letters and diaries she left behind. The thought that kneeling was Etty’s demonstration of awe is one that should inspire us today.
I wonder what it might be like if we all knelt a little bit more and stood tall a bit less. The thought of making ourselves vulnerable in the kneeling position is a foreign one to us. But the image of getting on both knees to help a child or to pray at night is universally embraced. The reverence and wonder demonstrated by such an act can only be matched by how defenseless we become in this position. It is time for more kneeling. It is time for becoming so open to God and each other that we are once again willing to find the common ground necessary for a cessation of all the misunderstandings and animosity which are destroying us.
The Reverence of Kindness
I wonder what it might be like, or what sort of kindnesses we might extend if we recognized God in the face of everyone we meet.
"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile." ~ Mother Teresa
We have the wonderful opportunity to bring a message of kindness, hope and joy where we might have inflicted damage and beaten others down in the past. We are all starved for such words and so richly blessed when we hear them.
I wonder what it might be like, or what sort of kindnesses we might extend if we recognized God in the face of everyone we meet. Can you imagine the awe we might have for one another? The reality that each of us is created in the image of God should be enough to at least give us pause.
The stranger, the wounded, and even the arrogant people would become our beloved relative. This is not some dreamy illusion but is a spiritual truth. The only thing lacking is our reverence. It is reverence that identifies the sacred. And the sacred surrounds each and every one of us.
“Kindness, I've discovered, is everything in life.” ~ Isaac Bashevis Singer
Our mission is to treat each other very well. The final words attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi were ‘brothers, while there is still time, let us do good’. This means that kindness and compassion should always be our lot.
We can only do this sort of good when we are filled with reverence and awe for the very fact that the other is our relative, our dear, found relative. Kindness, gratitude and gentleness will become second nature.
Love will replace suspicion and guardedness will be exchanged for generosity. We cannot afford to waste time arguing and grasping for personal power, control and relevance. Now is the time to seek God in the present moment, in the hearts and eyes of our fellow travelers, and in the hands that long for our touch.
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Robert Kenneth Jones is an innovator in the treatment of addiction and childhood abuse.
In a career spanning over four decades, his work helping people recover from childhood abuse and addiction has earned him the respect of his peers.
His blog, An Elephant for Breakfast, testifies to the power of the human spirit to overcome the worst of life’s difficulties. We encourage you to visit and share this rich source of healing, inspiration and meditation.
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Bob Jones’ blog An Elephant for Breakfast