Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Editor's Choice

The kindness of strangers

BMJ 2005; 331 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7516.0-f (Published 08 September 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;331:0-f

Rapid Response:

Let’s practice kindness

Every spring, a bluebird flies down our chimney, gets trapped in the flue, and
makes a tremendous racket trying to free itself. But birds cannot fly vertically,
so eventually the little fellow falls into the woodstove - exhausted and
defeated. Then we gently rescue him, take him outside, and watch him fly
away. Like the bluebird, man is trapped - unable to escape or ascend. And
man is waiting for the gentle hand of kindness and friendship to lift him up.

Competing interests:
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

19 January 2009
Hugh Mann
Physician
Eagle Rock, MO 65641 USA