Standing upright

 

 

Such a good one to remember.  Especially for me!  For some awkward reason, what other people think of me matters.  Probably not as much as it used to.  My skin has gotten a little bit tougher over the years as people work so hard not to be nice.  But it still hurts.  I have often wondered why it is so easy for some people to be mean to others. 

I know that it is easy to believe that, as Christians, we are the only ones that really know better (yet we don't always live it in spite of ourselves).  As I was reading today, I found examples of the golden rule in several other world religions.  The list goes on and on, but these are ones most of you will recognize.   

The Universality of the Golden Rule in the World Religions

Christianity	All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.       Matthew 7:1
Confucianism	Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state.       Analects 12:2
Buddhism	Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.       Udana-Varga 5,1
Hinduism	This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you.       Mahabharata 5,1517
Islam	No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.       Sunnah
Judaism	What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.       Talmud, Shabbat 3id
Taoism	Regard your neighbor’s gain as your gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss.       Tai Shang Kan Yin P’ien
Zoroastrianism	That nature alone is good which refrains from doing another whatsoever is not good for itself.       Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5

Adapted from "The Christopher Newsletter"


As I have tried to change my life, and specifically the way I treat others around me, I have discovered good in many places that I have not looked to before.  I think, part of standing up in this world is being able to recognize and find the good ground that is around us.  It is not, and never has been, popular opinion that matters.  It is how we treat those around us.  How well we accept others opinions and beliefs.  How much we love. 
I am learning that the harder we try and see through God's eyes, the more good we will find in those who seem different from ourselves.