I’m just so tired of meanness. I’m not talking about direct, honest talk or comedians making biting jokes. I’m talking about the people who go out of their way to make life miserable for others. And while meanness varies in degrees, it is, at its core, a flaw in one’s personality and character. And we see it everywhere, don’t we? People who won’t give up their seat to a pregnant woman – people who steal a parking spot – people who make fun of someone’s difference or their cancer diagnosis – people who snub you when you visit their house of worship – there is meanness everywhere, and I am done with it. Why are people truly mean? Why can’t we all just get along, to coin a phrase?
I grew up with a mean father, and he didn’t have to be. I knew mean people in my home church who, for no reason I could ascertain, got up every morning on the wrong side of the bed. I dealt with bullies, the embodiment of meanness, and it was never a pretty outcome. And while I understand that we are all products of our environment, and it may be that there is some genetic factor that makes some people mean on a cellular level, it isn’t excusable. And yes – there are some people who are overly sensitive who think anything that isn’t “nice” is mean. God save us from niceness! I think it is true that when we speak the truth, no matter how loving we try to be, someone will probably find a reason to be insulted. That isn’t how I define meanness.
Meanness is sending heavily armed troops into cities to cause fear and mayhem. Meanness is legislating to take rights away from people you disagree with. Meanness is taking food away from hungry children. Maybe being mean is a form of mental illness. Like Scrooge, meanness can be the result of past grievances and inner loathing. We all get grumpy. We all get annoyed. We all do things to others that we shouldn’t. But truly mean people act out inappropriately on a daily basis, doing harm just for the love of it. They are bullies and they are greedy and they have decrepit souls. And, like any other bully, they need to be confronted and called to change. Because true meanness only brings about pain and suffering. And isn’t there enough of that in the world already?
Prayer – Holy God, forgive us when we lapse into meanness, and show us how to live with kindness and mercy and grace. Amen.
Today’s art is “Today’s God” – artist unknown.