Dealing with Good

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Compassion is the correct response.

When we see people hurting or hungry; lonely or cold; widowed or orphaned; sick... or just broken down on the side of the road...
it is a good thing that we feel sympathy as we witness them. That is a good quality within us.

I think sometimes we have negative associations with these experiences because we relate them to guilt or shame... maybe because we don't feel we do enough to be a real help... or we don't even know what would really help.

But when we recognize that this compassion is a good thing, the right thing to be feeling... then we are in the perfect place to be a benefit to those around us. Then we can respond to the needs of those we come into contact with whatever we are able to offer. Not out of guilt or shame... but out of ... an almost subconscious understanding that the good in us, is worth sharing with others.

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The good in us.

The more I've observed the more I'm convinced that people are good. I've always thought that a "victim mentality" is the greatest bane to humanity... this idea that it is the world around us what is to blame for our shortcomings.

But, although I still believe it is a great bane, I've also realized that it is the greatest proof of the inherent goodness in mankind... or maybe it would be more accurate to say the inherent desire to be good (though I find the two difficult to separate).

Why would someone who had no desire to be good, care about the perception of why they do evil things? They wouldn't.

They care about that perception, out of a hope that though they have done evil things... they are not evil. If it is the fault of my parents, or school, or society, or circumstance that I steal, or cause pain, or lie... then maybe if those things change, I will no longer be one who steals, or lies.

Yes, it's wrong. Yes, we cannot grow out of our vices until we take responsibility for them...
but... isn't the hope itself such a beautiful thing to recognize?

That we want to do good?

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With this in mind, now we can look at the Children of Israel, in the Old Testament and hear them crying out to God.

"We are sinners. We worship other things. We kill. We steal. We lie. We are adulterous. We are sinners! We recognize it and are unable to change. Is there any hope?"

And God hears their cry. And gives them hope.

He makes them a promise and carved it into stone:

Don't worry,
You will have no other Gods before me. You will not murder. You will not commit adultery. You will not steal. You will not lie. You will not covet what is your neighbor's...

He gives them hope. Makes a promise? A prophesy? Could the law be a definition of what His plan for His children is... instead of a burden?

In Matthew 5:17 Jesus said, "I haven't come to destroy the law, but to fulfil it."

And He did didn't He?

Because of His sacrifice, God's promise that we would not be murderers, thieves, and liars... is true. Because the sacrifice was so perfect, and the forgiveness was so complete, we match the description God gave us in the Law.

2 Corinthians 3:6 says that the letter of the law destroys, but the spirit of the law gives life.

What if instead of putting all of our energy into just trying to obey the law... we choose to believe it?



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Sharon is blogging. It's wonderful.


I've been fumbling with writing my support letter, but I think it's really close.

So, um... would you mind sending your mailing address to:

shadsharonmission[at symbol]gmail.com

You will receive a FREE stamped envelope! (this would be a good place for a winking emoticon... but I'm way too cool and manly to use emoticons)
Thanks.