Why Kindness?

I was asked to write two book forwards this week.  This is something I have done for a number of writers – more in recent years.I am becoming increasingly wary of who I write either forwards or book “plugs” for these days.  Why?… Many come to me as the “Kindness Guy” thinking they “get it”… Nice folks one and all, but as we chat I realize they have far oversimplified the way of kindness… that to live a lifestyle of kindness is not simplistic, though it is simple… simple as in the way Jesus lived.One point to ponder:  All who have made a dent in the world they live in-       those who have not simply passed through and gone “quietly into that dark night”-       but have determined at some point-       most usually come to that point in their early twenties-       make that dent by living out the power of kindness if one takes the time to scratch past the mere surface of things.How can one shift from where they are now to living from that position?Here is a thought pregnant with layers of meaning.  Suggest you write it on an index card and ponder it for a few days.“Forget about succeeding yourself.  Toss all of those thoughts away.  (‘Cast your bread upon the water’ as the scriptures say.)  Live with the goal in mind that you are all about making others shine, others stand out from the crowd – others “successful” – whatever that means in their world.”  Do that, and you will succeed wildly – regardless of what your original aim was.  Guaranteed, you will wake up one day not long from now and realize you accidentally hit the bull’s eye yourself – as surprising as it may have been.