The Power of a Word, of an Act

There is an old expression, “The power of the word”, to describe the immense influence the written word can have.  And it has often been proven to be true that news articles and books have effected great changes in the world – sometimes for the better, and sometimes not. 

The fact is, however, that one single word can change the world, or one single act, if it is a word or act of kindness.

One of our confreres in the Order of Malta in the Western Association wrote to me this past year about a suicide in California.  It seems that a young man jumped to his death. His suicide note told how depressed, lonely and unhappy he was, having no friends, no one he could talk to or lean on.  He wrote that he intended to kill himself, but that if on the way to the place he had chosen to end it all, one person gave him a single word of kindness, or showed an act of kindness, or a simple friendly greeting, he would not kill himself, but rather would return and destroy his suicide note.  The police found the note.  A single word or act of kindness could have saved this young man’s life.

Kindness need not be expensive.  It could be a simple “Good morning!” to a stranger as we walk to the bus stop, or even a simple smile and nod.  A smile has great power in our self-centered world.  Or perhaps holding the elevator for a stranger.  Life is full of opportunities for simple words or acts of kindness.   

And this world we live in desperately needs acts and words of kindness.  A single word or simple act could save a life.