I was raised by an moderate fashioned Mother and a liberal Father. I was taught to love all. I was taught to show compassion. I was taught to recognize frailty. This I learned from my Mother. I was taught to be open-minded. I was taught to trust as well as to be suspicious. I was taught to be judgmental. I was taught the importance of being vigil as well as being suspicious. This I learned from my Father. We as humans with the profound knowledge of original sin are imperfect individuals. Our unique ideology empowers us to form close ties with like minded individuals. Regrettably this individualism creates boundaries. These limitations restrict out understanding and our relationship with God. We are fallible. We are susceptible to rhetoric. A common sermon, speech or discourse is what allows us to shape our philosophy. A way of life is the behavior we outwardly display to others.
Are we putting on a show? If so for who. So we act one way in public and secretly loathe those we are expected to aid. Double standards exist in every society across the globe. It matters not the social, economic, religious or demographics. What matters is the commonality we all share. Contempt for the destitute, deprived, feeble and insignificant.
How dare we judge? How arrogant of us to presume we know all. Many denigrate God by failing to appreciate the simplicity of the world He created. We were put he in his image. Nothing is required of us. We merely are expected to be. In simple terms. We are a reflection of God. We are an embodiment, a personification of truly holy being. Any distillation of that creation taints the holiness of life.
If everyone followed the GOLDEN RULE , our world would be a better place.
Society is defined as. . . More broadly, a society is an economic, social or industrial infrastructure, made up of a varied collection of individuals. So what kind of a society are we? A child is born dependent and is celebrated, in an independent society, when they can say "I can do it for myself." However a tribal child is encouraged to grow beyond independence into interdependence, so they can say "I can do it for others". Are we a group of individuals with common goals? (I.e. school, career, marriage, house, family) Or, are we individuals who become part of a group. (i.e., school, career, marriage, house, family, community, government, world.)
We have progressed in science and technology. We are proud of our Military and our elected officials. We support our Police and Educators. We donate to Charities and Volunteer. Yet we still treat each other with disrespect, Hatred runs ramped through our hearts.
We justify this by stating morals and principles, values and ideals or ethics and beliefs. What is society? It is a large group of people who live in a confined area? Is it individuals who come together in a geographic location? Is it economics? Is it religion?
I was raised by an old fashioned Mother and a liberal Father. I have had the best of both worlds. I have been rich. I have been poor. I have been treated like a king. I have been violently abused. I have been faithful to God. I have fallen away from God.
What I have witnessed is the implausible. Yet I remain optimistic that humanity can overcome its immaturity.We judge a family by its economic standing. Can they keep up with the us? If not then they are not worth my time and compassion.
I have worked with many desperate individuals. What the Men crave most is common decency, respect and dignity. We as a society need to model compassion for all, empathy in the face of adversity and altruistic with deliberate concern for humanity. It matters not if someone is homeless dignity is a simple human right granted to us by GOD. Love your neighbors as you would love yourself.
Reflect on your life. If in these trying times you find yourself in a similar situation, would you not want to be treated with dignity?
You may find yourself pondering the very thought as this economy is struggling. Put yourself in their shoes. You will find yourself smiling at the man or woman on the corner asking for help. You may just find yourself talking to that tattered stranger. You may just find you have more in common than you think.
In reality, that man or woman is you.
For we all are a reflection of God.
