Friday, August 5, 2011

Follow The Golden Rule

“Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” -- Matthew 7:12

Let’s imagine that, just for today, you’ll experience everything you do to others as if they were doing it to you. For example, someone talks to you the way you spoke to the waitress at lunch. Or your boss is hateful to you, the way you were hateful to one of your employees. Or you get rejected by a friend, the one you rejected someone else. It doesn’t feel good, does it?

Jesus told us to treat other people the way we want to be treated. How often do we do that? Honestly? We’re so busy living our lives, focused on ourselves, that we really don’t pay attention to other people. Especially people that we really don’t know and doubt we’ll see again. It’s like we ignore them and their feelings.

Kindness and compassion mean so much to people. You just never know when a smile and a “thank you” will make a person’s day. The people around us, having their lives, are carrying burdens we can’t begin to imagine. We’re so busy not getting involved, staying in our tight little world, that we don’t realize what a difference we can make.

Sometimes we’re called to do things that just aren’t convenient. Like help an elderly person get up a few stairs. Or listen to a stressed co-worker. Or give a few dollars to someone in need when we really don’t have anything extra in our wallets.

Years ago I spent a great deal of time in and out of malls, working and supervising employees. I was shocked at the number of children who would get separated from their parents. I was appalled at how other people, especially parents, who wouldn’t help a child who was crying and alone. I vowed to always take time to help a child.

And I did. One little boy was hysterical as he ran through the mall. Tears streamed from his face. People looked and pointed but no one attempted to help him. I simply bent down and opened my arms and he ran right into them. A nearby store clerk called security and the little boy was soon reunited with his parents.

I’d like to think that my presence didn’t matter. That little boy would have been fine and reunited with his parents without me. But what if the person who “helped” was a child predator just looking for a victim? Maybe it’s the former news reporter in me, but I just can’t walk away. I know that I’ll do everything I can to get that child either reunited with his parents or into the custody of the police. But I don’t know about the next person. So I make time.

Instead of thinking that you don’t have time or it doesn’t involve you, ask yourself how you would feel if that were your child, or your elderly parent or you on the receiving end of a tongue lashing. It puts things in a different perspective, doesn't it? We'd all be happier and safer if we'd just follow the Golden Rule.