It’s cost awareness that prompted President Obama’s health care plan.  It’s cost awareness that prompted his supporters to support his plan.  And, it’s cost awareness that prompts his detractors to scream and howl.

I must admit that the dollar signs and costs of the health care plan has caused me to glaze over.  I also glaze over when:

- A baseball player, even one as good as Ryan Howard, needs $125 million dollars to play a game he loves.

- I cannot grasp the benefit of searching for Noah’s Ark

- I cannot grasp the complexity of the debt problems in Greece

Back in January my friend Tim Geoffrion wrote an insightful post entitled “When Loving Gets Tough.”

“When conflicts arise or we have been hurt, or when others really irritate or offend us, it can be really tough to love them…For any number of reasons, our intention or attempts to love others can fall short.”

We want to love.  We want to act lovingly.  It’s our plan.  We think loving thoughts.  We would tell other friends or family members that we love ___, but when the conflicts arise it does not look very loving.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another…” [Ephesians 4:32]

What is Kindness?

Kindness is a choice.

Kindness is an attitude.

Kindness is not a weakness.

Kindness is counter-cultural.  Sadly, kindness is radical thinking in our culture.

Kindness recognizes that the other person as important.  Not more important than you, and not less important than you.

Kindness Involves Action

When we recognizes that another person is as important as we are it changes what we do and what we value.

Adam Bieringer’s Funeral Service

April 15, 2010 @ Wulff Godbout Funeral Home

Hi. My name is Scott Volltrauer and I have the incredible privilege of speaking.  As I look around the room I see people who have known Adam longer, known him more intimately and loved him more deeply than I could imagine.  To each of you I ask you to be patient with me as we reflect together on Adam’s life.