Don’t Be Nice, Be Kind

I try to be kind to people. I avoid being nice.

Nice is artificial. It creates barriers between people because it is rooted in ego. When he are nice, we want to create the impression we are good people.

But we are not.

For those who believe in Christ — we all fall short of the glory of God. We are all sinners and imperfect. We can, through the Spirit, give of grace to others, but often this may seem harsh because the Spirit speaks to truth, which is actually love. It always wants the best for us, but the best is not always easy.

For those who do not believe in Christ — hopefully you believe in something greater than yourself, whether it is Holy Atman (a Hindu concept) or YHWH or Allah or the magnificent redwood outside your house or a particular Buddhist Koan.

I think the important thing is to go beyond your own ego because if you don’t, I think you can end up in destructive, self-obessessed pathways. This is of course simply my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt.

I have found this true for myself — if I want to love others, I have to love myself. And if I want to love myself, I must be honest with myself. That means I put aside the curtains and the veils that hide my face from God.

When Adam and Eve sinned what if they had gone before God honestly? What if they had lifted their faces to Him and let the dawn shine on their cheeks? What if they had openly cried in sorrow?

But they hid from Him.

And sometimes our pain is so great we also try to hide. Because we are human.

We are only human.

If anyone tries to put you on a pedastal — break it. We are mortal, and only God (or the infinite) is worthy of worship. Do not let anyone trick you into believing that you have all the answers, that you are always right, that you don’t need the One above you.

If you are a beautiful woman and men want to adore you — ask yourself why. Does it make sense?

If you are a wealthy man — is that a reason for people to worship you?

What does it do to your soul to be turned into an object of veneration? How does it corrupt you?

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Spend time in meditation and reflect upon your flaws so that your life is based in reality. Focus on becoming better, not on being perfect. Follow the journey and be humble before your Lord.

Sorry if this was sorta grim, but this was where my heart was this evening.

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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.

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