Tuesday; January 24

As I drove to work recently I noticed the flags at half-staff. Unfortunately, this is becoming way too common in our nation. This occasion was prompted by the murders in Monterey Park, California. While I appreciate the nation mourning the loss of life, I believe we are missing an important aspect of change. You see, things won’t become more civil just by demonstrating national grief. Things will not improve merely by saying “our thoughts and prayers are with you”. What we need is for us – you and me … and everyone else in this nation – to go back to the basics of civility. Collective mourning and praying for each other is noble, but the most important thing that will turn the tide is one of the simplest answers we can find and something most of us already know. It was spoken several centuries ago when Jesus said simply, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12). We can have all kinds of sociologists, politicians, psychologists and life coaches examine the problem, but they won’t come up with anything more effective than the Golden Rule taught by the Rabbi a long time ago.

I wish there was a pill we could all take or a fog that could be sprayed over our neighborhoods that would make people respect each other, but there isn’t. Compliance is voluntary and must be taught one person at a time. Each one of us needs to commit to being nice to those around us and teach our children to do the same thing. We may not change the world overnight, but we just might be able to help the next generation get a better handle on civility than what exists today.

Think About It!

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