Do unto others as you would have others do unto you (Matthew 7:12). <\/p>\n
That verse is known by most people as the Golden Rule. Whether you are a person of faith or not most people would agree that it is a pretty good guide for life. Yet even as most would agree that it is a good life goal there seems to be an absence of it on a number of levels in our world. <\/p>\n
In a nation whose political landscape is so divided we see an absence of this practice. In a world where so many talk at each other instead of to each other the practice seems forgotten. In a culture where electronic communications so easily voice our weaker nature, one would assume there has been a vacancy of learning about the transformational power of the Golden Rule. <\/p>\n
With all this being considered I suppose we could throw up our hands, give up and avoid people. We could cry that, nothing will change and I am checking out. We could do that, but that would change nothing. That attitude would offer no hope for the future, and that simply is not an attitude that we as humans can afford to have. <\/p>\n
When I was in high school our cross-country team was very good, state ranked, in fact, all season. They wore T-shirts to summer training camp with the following statement on them. The shirts said, What will be is up to me! That sentiment gave me a simple language that revealed what my heart believed. No matter what the circumstances may be I can make a difference wherever I am. No matter what the circumstances may be we can make a difference no matter where we are. <\/p>\n
Later on, another thought occurred to me. What happens if enough Is become wes? What would happen if our attitude became I cant change everything but I can change something every day? What would happen if people began doing five simple acts of kindness every day? What would happen if we held doors for people? Smiled and said hello? Allowed people to turn in front of us in heavy traffic? What would happen if we made it our purpose to treat people who bring us our food or sell us our gas like we wanted to be treated? What would happen if for an hour or so every day we shut off the TV or the electronic devices and talked and listened to each other? What would happen if we went for walks in the neighborhood every summer evening and just looked to help someone with something simple? <\/p>\n
South African Bishop Desmond Tutu said, Hope is being able to see that there is light despite the darkness. This reminds us not to give up. <\/p>\n
St. Paul said, Faith, hope, love, abide these three but the greatest of these is love. This reminds us of the powerful source of transformation that can change anything. What will be is up to me reminds us that I\/we are the living sources of transformation. This mornings sunrise reminds us that it is time to get to work changing the future! <\/p>\n
A Fellow Traveler on the Journey Pastor Dan <\/p>\n
The Rev. Dan Bowman is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Gaylord. He can be reached at fumcpastor@winntel.net<\/a>. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n See the original post here:<\/p>\n OPINION: The 'Golden Rule' in the face of a negative climate - Petoskey News-Review<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Do unto others as you would have others do unto you (Matthew 7:12). That verse is known by most people as the Golden Rule. Whether you are a person of faith or not most people would agree that it is a pretty good guide for life Continue reading