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Many of us would agree that polarization in our American society is one of the great dangers to our democracy and well being.  When fellow countrymen write each other off because of disagreements over political values, there is trouble brewing.  We are seeing that big time on our societal happenings today with our seeming “refusal to agree to disagree” on so many social issues.  The tendency is not only to disagree but to make each other enemies.

One of the best books I am currently reading on this subject is “Love Your Enemies” by Arthur C. Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute, columnist, professor and author.  He points out that our problem in America today is not anger but contempt, which social scientists  define as “anger mixed with disgust.”  I quote Dr. Brooks here, “While anger seeks to bring someone back to the fold, contempt seeks to exile” (pages 10 and 22).

At any rate, Jesus was not so much concerned with our loving those who love us but with our loving those who may not love us or agree with us.  As a matter of fact, Jesus’ emphasis is on loving our enemies.

So where is our hope in dealing with the crisis of polarization in our time.  Before I suggest an answer, it is good to know that polls show that a majority of Americans are tired of the polarization and are ready to move on.

Kindness! That’s right, kindness! If anybody ever had a case not to be kind it was the biblical character, Joseph.  His brothers treated him like dirt and sold him into slavery.  This action, by his brothers, resulted in practically everything going wrong in his life for the next 30 years.  But later, as you may recall, Joseph’s fortune reversed and he became the second in command over all of Egypt.  Then came the day that his father Jacob had died, and his brothers knelt before Joseph.  To be sure, they were fearful and they had every reason to be.  But Joseph rather than being vindictive, spoke kindly to them.  Don’t miss this!  He reassured his brothers because he spoke kindly to them.

What is kindness anyway?  Kindness has been described as “love in action.”  It is those things we do.  If there is any real hope of overcoming the polarization that divides our American politics and country it will come through kindness to others, whether we agree with them or not.

So what does it mean to practice kindness in the midst of today’s polarization?

The following are a few suggestions.

1) Kindness means an honest examination of our own attitudes to ensure that we ourselves practice kindness.

2) Kindness is overcoming contempt (anger with discuss) and never writing off anybody.

3) Kindness is intentionally listening to those with whom we differ and hearing their side of the story.

4) Kindness is seeing others not as a danger but as a unique opportunity.

5) Kindndess means showing respect for others and this always includes humility and patience.

6) Kindness is loving and transforming our enemies into friends.

Kindness is not conformity but unity for a nobler America.

Joseph reassured his brothers by speaking kindly to them.  And it will be no less true of us in dealing with our polarization.