On Gentleness

Author's Note: A version of this post was published in my personal blog in July, 2009. I thought that it was particularly relevant to repost this during this election season.

In this day and age of boisterousness and stridency–from the yelling that passes for political "discourse" to the “shout fests” that consume talk T.V. and radio, the concept of quiet gentleness is all too forgotten. Yet, gentleness is a quality that is much sought after, indeed craved, by most people in society today, I think.?To possess humility and a certain poverty of spirit is much maligned as being “weak”. But, the most successful and persuasive people whom I have ever known in business (and in most other fields of endeavor, for that matter) possess a certain?“sense of self” and quiet dignity that simply lets their soft spoken words express the power of the ideas that they are attempting to convey. And, most do it very, very effectively.

In a figurative sense, open your arms and embrace people to your side. Comfort their sorrows. Shed the warm light of hope on all those who suffer in the darkness of despair.?Stroke their hair, calm their fears, and gently?kiss away their tears. Tell them that “things will be alright. Don’t worry, now.” And, really mean it.

You will possess power beyond belief. And, legions will come from far and wide to seek comfort in the soft warmth of your embrace.

“Where gentleness and love prevail, there God is ever found….”

–From a song that we sometimes sing in church.

“Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.”

-Robert F. Kennedy