“A little kindness from person to person is better than a vast love for all humankind.”

– Richard Dehmel

When I read these words, I could understand what Dehmel was saying; but I think he falls just short of the mark.  If I could rewrite his words, I would say that the best way to express a vast love for all humankind is with a little kindness from person to person.

We talk all the time about unity and recognizing the oneness we share with all of creation, especially with other people.  Expressing these sentiments is a good thing, and it strikes a common chord among others who feel the same way.  The problem can be in trying to find ways to demonstrate these vast feelings and allow them to take shape and impact the world.  Huge feelings make us want to do huge things that will make a huge impact on others and encourage them by our example and by the feeling they have when we embrace them as our own.  It can leave us feeling as though our arms are too small to encircle all the people we love.  How do we begin to embrace all of humankind and express our vast love and acknowledge our oneness?

Kindness from one person to another is the way we express the vastness of our love — not only to those whose actions merit a similar response, but to all those who cross our path.  It is kindness that makes our arms long enough to embrace all of humankind.  It is said that if you save one man you save the world.  Kindness is no different.  Look into the eyes of each person you meet and see all of humanity there.  Reach out your long, loving arms and express your vast love in each small act.  It is through kindness that our vast love becomes reality.