“The highest form of wisdom is kindness.” 

That was the message on a church sign in Alabama. 

It was a small, Baptist church with whitewashed siding and pickup trucks filling the grassy parking lot. I could’ve assumed a lot about what they believed, whether they really meant “all are welcome,” and who they would be voting for in the upcoming election. 

But when I read the sign, it was as if I could hear God saying, “Watch it, Heidi. They are your siblings—I created them, too.” 

In essence, this is what our next sermon series “Campaign for Kindness” is all about. 

In a world that is focused on divisiveness and “us” and “them,” we must focus on how Jesus has called us to treat one another: “do unto others as you would have them to unto you.” 

The Golden Rule. A version of this teaching can be found in almost every major religion. And this universal rule holds the power to bring people together. 

Lord have mercy, it’s a lot easier to judge others—condemning them for thinking “this way” or “that;” making ourselves superior because we are right and they are wrong. But again and again, we read in scripture that Jesus calls us to unity through love, compassion, and seeking not to judge, but to understand. 

So this fall, we are going to join other congregations around the US in the grassroots movement to Campaign for Kindness. Launched by Resurrection, a United Methodist Church in the Kansas City area, this campaign encourages people to be intentional about treating one another with kindness, even those with whom we disagree. 

You’ll notice that the logo for this series is a heart—the top left of it is red, the top right is blue, and the middle is purple, symbolizing unity. In this series, I will not advocate for one candidate or another; one political party or another. I will advocate for kindness. And if there’s a campaign slogan, it’s this:

A vote for kindness is a step toward overcoming the polarization in our country through civility and respect.

Our mission of “creating safe spaces” means not only is our church building a safe space, but we are safe spaces for people to feel loved, respected, and understood. One way we can achieve this is through the wisdom of kindness. 

So let us learn to go and be “safe spaces!”

Take care,

Pastor Heidi