With this Sunday marking the beginning of Advent, I thought this week’s Inspiration would be an excellent opportunity to begin stoking the flames of our Christmas spirit by sharing a Yuletide story. It’s become an Inspiration tradition. So, as in past years, I began by gathering up the dozen or so seasonal books we’ve acquired over the years. As is a common occurrence when putting together these weekly musings, I started down one path and ended up on another. Tucked away amongst our cherished Christmas books was a non-holiday children’s book authored by Ilene Cooper entitled The Golden Rule. I had never read the tale, but it piqued my interest, so I perused it and quickly decided that, while not a yuletide story, it was perfect choice for the current times we find ourselves in. As we embark on this season of Peace and Joy, after reading this story, I trust you will agree it is the perfect way to begin our Advent journey.
A boy and his grandfather stood on a city sidewalk looking up at a billboard.
“Grandpa, what does that say” the boy asked.
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. People all over the world call those words the Golden Rule.”
“What does it mean? The boy wanted to know. “And why is it golden?”
“It means this: Treat people the way you would like to be treated. It’s golden because it is so valuable, and a way of living your life that’s so simple, it shines.”
Grandfather led the boy to another billboard, farther down the sidewalk. “Some people put the Golden Rule another way:
Do nothing to other people that you would not like having done to you.
“Either way,” he said, “it’s a very good rule.
“Who’s it for?” the boy asked.
“You, me. Anyone can practice the Golden Rule.”
“A rule that’s the same for children and grownups?”
“Same rule.”
“There aren’t many rules like that.”
“Very few.”
“And it’s for people everywhere?”
“Everywhere.”
Grandfather replied, “Whatever their religion, people find the idea of the Golden Rule in their holy books.
CHRISTIANITY SAYS:
You should love your neighbor as you love yourself.
JUDAISM SAYS:
What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow humans.
ISLAM SAYS:
Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you.
HINDUISM SAYS:
This is the sum of duty: to do nothing to others which would cause them pain.
THE SHAWNEE TRIBE SAYS:
Do not kill or injure your neighbor, for it is not he or she that you injure; you injure yourself.”
The boy and his grandfather then sat on a nearby park bench.
“So, Grandpa, how can I start to practice the Golden Rule?”
“You begin by using your imagination.”
“My imagination?”
“You imagine how someone else feels. For instance, a new child who is joining your class. How do you think that boy or girl is feeling?”
“New kids always look scared.”
“Would you be scared if it was you?”
“Oh, yes.”
“What would make you feel better?”
“If…if someone smiled at me.”
“So, to practice the Golden Rule, you would…”
“Smile at the new kid?”
“You’ve got it! I bet you can think of other ways you’d like to be treated. And ways you wouldn’t want to be treated. How do you feel when you’re teased? Or bullied?”
“Sad.”
“Yes.”
“Mad.”
“Yes.”
“Small. I feel small.”
“Sad, mad, small. Do you like feeling like that?”
“No.”
“Neither does anyone else.”
The boy thought for a moment about the Golden Rule.
“I see. There are lots of things I can do. I should tell the truth because I don’t like being lied to. I want people to listen to me, so I should listen to other people. When I’m sick, or when I’m tired, sometimes I need help. So, I should offer my help to those who need it.”
“You’re getting the idea.” Grandfather nodded.
The boy looked at his grandfather. “Practicing the Golden Rule seems like it could be hard.”
“I said it was simple. I didn’t say it would always be easy.”
“Grandpa,” the boy said, “the Golden Rule is a very big thing, isn’t it?”
“Very big. And very small. And very old. It’s been around for thousands of years.”
“Thousands of years? Well then, I don’t think everyone is practicing the way they should. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many problems. Between people. Between countries.”
“You’re right, my boy. I wonder how things would change if everyone lived by the Golden Rule.”
“I think people would be nicer. Kinder. They’d act better toward their families and friends, and even strangers.”
“What if countries lived by the Golden Rule?” Grandfather asked.
“Well, then people wouldn’t want to hurt each other, because they don’t like being hurt. Maybe there wouldn’t be wars.”
“That would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?”
“Wonderful, Grandpa.”
“But you can’t make everyone in the world practice the Golden Rule. There’s only one person you can ask to do that.”
“Me?”
“You. It begins with you.”
…then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most Hight, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful just as [also] your Father is merciful. –Luke, 6:35-36
Have an AWE-full Weekend!
William “Bill” Bacque