Kindness of folks

Kindness is one of those virtues that seem to be 'optional'. Not embedded as deeply as, say, honesty. Or say, faithfulness. So when there is kindness in places it is not expected, the tears do flow. Like while trying to push the wheelchair on the granite floor of the Meenakshi Amman Koil in Madurai, and a devotee hither-thither nonchalantly pulling it over the ramp or across a tricky bump. There was no need for that. There was no expectation. It was just that. A random act of kindness. Or asking someone if they could enquire about a medical equipment, and they going to another store in the maddening heat just to find out if they had it and organised that it be dispatched in time for use. It's just that kindness, especially from strangers, hits different. It kind of makes the world alright again amidst war, violence, pain and grief. It kind of momentarily feels like a balm.