Kindness Matters

Basildon, England, 1982.

As a young Christian missionary in Canterbury, England, I knocked on many doors. The reception was often hostile.

One night, as I was about to knock on another door, I turned to my fellow young minister and asked if he thought people ever regretted being rude to us after we left.

Before my friend could respond, a man opened the door. We’d barely introduced ourselves before he resolutely informed us of his religious affiliation and sent us away. We turned and left.

We were halfway down the walk when the door again opened. “Hey, come on in and have a drink,” he said. We didn’t drink but we spent the evening in his home enjoying his hospitality. We were so grateful for his kindness.

Ministers of various faiths knock on my door. I always invite them in. I’m not often swayed by their message, but I hope decades from now they will remember the kindness and pass it on to another.