At the end of the high school reunion weekend, there was a chapel service. The headmaster stood and read the names of graduates who had died since the school was founded over a century ago. The list was very long, and he read slowly. When he finished, representatives from each of the five-year reunion classes--beginning with the class of 1949 and ending with the class of 2004--stood and read the names of their classmates who had died. The first lists were read without emotion by ones who had grown familiar with death. The lists from recent classes were read through sobs. We sat in sober silence. At the end of the service, the priest gave us the gift of this invitation: “Our time is short. . . . Make haste to be kind.”
Father, I make haste to do so many things that don’t really matter. Today, teach me to make haste to be kind.
"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted. . . ." Ephesians 4:32