The Importance of Being Civil

Cities Are Civilized By People

People, whether highly educated or not, can still be civil. It is not a play on words to say that being civil is an important part of civilization.

To be civil, in all cultures, is to move beyond a primitive self-absorbed, me-first mentality.

Civilized people create positive cultural climates. Their basic respect for all people, enables them to interact with all levels of society. Courtesy and politeness are shown by personal choice, not social pressure.

They are not always on edge to remember rules of etiquette. Their brand of civility means relating to others through inner thoughtfulness and consideration.

An Angry Crowd Is Like A Cyclone

Lack of civility becomes quite obvious. Rioting in the streets and random destruction of property show a lack of thoughtfulness, courtesy, and respect.

An angry crowd can burn up a lot of energy. It also cancels personal choice because it does not leave time for inner thoughtfulness.

But the word “random” brings up a great reminder of how to be civil.

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) is a great concept. Search the web and you’ll find it was launched in 1995. In fact, RAK Week seems to land in February. But do we have to wait for a special week?

Simply put, random acts of kindness are thoughtful, spontaneous, and unpredictable. Reader’s Digest* had some wonderful examples.

Here’s my favorite: A three-year-old was begging for gummy treats in a store. The mom was doing her best to explain that daddy had lost his job and they could not afford any treats.

A stranger walked up and said, “You dropped this,” and handed her a fifty-dollar bill.

A random act of kindness . . . civil, thoughtful, polite, and spontaneous.

Small Things Are Important

You don’t have to be an adult to be kind. As a child, I learned Be ye kind one to another (Ephesians 4:32 (KJV). Mom taught the concept through both her words and deeds.

Be civil. Be kind. You may feel like a raindrop in the desert, but a tiny seed of hope might grow in someone from what you do.

*Reader's Digest, February 2020, pp. 82-87, Inspiration, Kindness: Pass It On!