Monday Mantra: Civilization Is Just The Slow Process of Learning To Be Kind

A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation".

Every Monday I will post a new thought, idea, or focus for the week. When you need a breather from life, when you need a little inspiration, or when you're about to jump over the conference table and strangle your co-worker, remember the mantra.

Monday Mantra: If the world is cold, make it your business to build fires.  - Horace Traubel

My grandmother-in-law (or just Gram, as we call her) gave me a book of poems for Christmas: Poems That Touch The Heart compiled by A. L. Alexander. It's a copy of a book her late husband, George, liked to read. George would often come across a poem that reminded him of how he felt about her. He'd then jot down the poem from the book and give it to her. Adorable, right guys?

As you may have already figured out, I'm a fan of all things poetry, but Gram sharing something with me like this that had a special meaning to her was really quite touching. I was excited to read it and even more excited when I realized this was no normal book of poems- no, no. This is a masterpiece of humanity at its finest.

At the beginning of the book there's a rather lengthy introduction. I don't always read the intro, but this one caught my attention immediately.

Mr. Alexander starts off by telling a story about a local university president that needed a quote for a new building that would, essentially, sum up humanity's quest to define morality. The president struggled, but eventually landed on this simple statement followed by a poem:

"Civilization is just the slow process of learning to be kind."

So many gods, so many creeds, 

So many paths that wind and wind, 

When just the art of being kind, 

Is all this sad world needs.

He then continues into a story about a piece of history I'd never heard of: The Good Will Court.

Back in the early 1900's, Mr. Alexander worked in broadcasting. This is when radios were the entertainment of all entertainment. Families would gather round their radios, anxiously anticipating their favorite radio show to start up. (Picture: The Christmas Story. Remember little Ralphie and his unyielding dedication to the Little Orphan Annie radio show? Better yet, consider the Orson Welles fiasco, where he terrified the nation by thinking aliens were invading. Radio was that important back then.)

In the 1930's, Mr. Alexander was noticing a theme in letters he'd receive from people all over the world. Letters about economic stress, family problems, a feeling of hopelessness overall. As someone who always had the listener in mind, he wanted to do something to help. He enlisted the help of over 60 judges from a variety of local courts and created a radio show where listeners could get real help for free. On March 31, 1935, he debuted the Good Will Court. It was, to say the least, revolutionary at the time.

Unfortunately, a group of lawyers got together and shut down the show based on, basically, not liking that legal advise was being given away, but for the two years it was on, it had unprecedented rankings in the radio world. Mr. Alexander went on to create more shows of similar nature, as his goal to help people was as strong as ever.

In all of the radio shows he hosted, he would always close each one out the same way- with a poem. Over the years, tens of thousands of listeners sent him poetry to be read. Each night, he'd pick a different one and read it over the airwaves. He found that poetry, "...teaches us there can be no inward peace or happiness without some elemental faith in life's essential goodness."

That, my friends, is how this book was created. Each poem within the book was sent in by some long ago listener, which was then selected to be read on the air, and finally, based on the warm reception it received from the audience, was then chosen for this book.

I don't know about you, but that entire story - from where these poems originated from, and why, to how they landed in this book - warms my heart. Candidly, I can see why the poems (and stories, some of them seem to be) that are in his book were chosen. So far, all of the ones I've read have truly resonated with me. That doesn't always happen with poetry. Sometimes you have to be in the same headspace as the author, but the poems are all so vast and diverse that they tug at your heartstrings every which way.

Below are some of my favorites that I've come across so far. I highly suggest picking up this unique book of poems so you, too, can read and experience a little piece of history that remains true today: People need people, people need hope, and we should all build fires to keep one another warm in cold times.

Around The Corner

Around the corner I have a friend, 

In this great city that has no end;

Yet days go by, and weeks rush on, 

And before I know it a year is gone, 

And I never see my old friend's face, 

For Life is a swift and terrible race.

He knows I like him just as well

As in the days when I rang his bell

And he rang mine. We were younger then, 

And now we are busy, tired men:

Tired with playing a foolish game, 

Tired with trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow, " I say, "I will call on Jim, 

Just to show that I'm thinking of him."

But tomorrow comes - and tomorrow goes, 

And the distance between us grows and grows

Around the corner! - yet miles away...

"Here's a telegram, sir..."

                                      "Jim died today."

And that's what we get, and deserve in the end:

Around the corner, a vanished friend.

- Charles Hanson Towne

Unsubdued

I have hoped, I have planned, I have striven, 

To the will I have added the deed;

The best that was in me I've given, 

I have prayed, but the gods would not heed.

I have dared and reached only disaster, 

I have battled and broken my lance;

I am bruised by a pitiless master

That the weak and the timid call chance.

I am old, I am bent, I am cheated

Of all that Youth urged me to win;

But name me not with the defeated, 

Tomorrow again, I begin.

 - S. E. Kiser

The Dark Candle

A man had a little daughter- an only and much-beloved child. He lived for her- she was his life. So when she became ill and her illness resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians, he became like a man possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health.

His best efforts proved unavailing and the child died. The father was totally irreconcilable. He became a bitter recluse, shutting himself away from his many friends and refusing every activity that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self.

But one night he had a dream. he was in Heaven, and was witnessing a grand pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently endless line past the Great White Throne. Every white-robed angelic tot carried a candle. He noticed that one child's candle was not lighted. Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl. Rushing to her, while the pageant faltered, he seized her in his arms, caressed her tenderly, and then asked:

"How is it, darling, that your candle alone is unlighted?"

"Father, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out."

Just them he awoke from his dream. The lesson was crystal clear, and its effects were immediate. From that hour on he was not a recluse, but mingled freely and cheerfully with his former friends and associates. No longer would his little darling's candles be extinguished by his useless tears!

 - Strickland Gillilan