Begin your discussion with a moment of quiet reflection, individual or group prayer, or whatever would be conducive to further discussion. Share with the group, as appropriate, your experiences during the week in being disciplined, in doing the journal exercises, in spreading around your own world a little goodness, or whatever.

1. "Goodness" (which is related to kindness) is a sincere desire for the happiness of others coupled with sustained effort to bring that happiness about. It is entirely other-directed and it requires substantial sensitivity. Most importantly, goodness is not based on the merit of the recipient. Thus, goodness is in a way the human equivalent of God's grace--in this sense it might even be translated graciousness.
2. It is important to realize that such simple goodness may very well be what Christians were created to dispense. See, e.g., Eph. 2:10: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
3. The best places to begin a more deliberate effort to dole out a little kindness is first at home, and then at work. At home, we can focus on providing relief from mundane household duties, on saying "Thanks" more often, on listening with interest to accounts of the day's activities, and so on. At work, we can show our appreciation more often, pay attention to the people "in the trenches," get to know the people around us and develop a sincere concern for their welfare.
4. The purpose of the journal exercises was two-fold: First, to cultivate and nurture a sensitivity to opportunities to dispense a little goodness to those around us, especially those in sore need of some kind attention; and, Second, to see how truly even the smallest efforts are capable of returning vast happiness in others.
 
1. Why is it that we do not see opportunities for kindness as often as we should? Is it just our egocentric natures? Are there also cultural forces at work (e.g., materialism)?
2. There was a bumper sticker a while back that had something about practicing "random acts of kindness." Note the odd implication in that view that kindness should be sporadic and random, instead of intentional and consistent. How does that strike you? It almost seems as if a life of consistent kindness is more difficult or less appealing than one characterized by larger, but less frequent, acts of beneficence. Agree? Why?
3. One of the interesting aspects of kindness is that it is usually found in extremely simple and small acts and gestures. For example, just talking to someone, asking about his day, listening carefully, sharing in his experiences, can be one of the kindest things we can do for another. Share with the group the reactions of those who were the recipients of such small acts of simple goodness. Why is it that the response is so disproportionate to the action?

4/17/98