The story...
What an odd thing to want the best from others when we aren't willing to be that "good" person ourselves. Worse yet, what a strange thing to want other people around us to behave according to a "best" standard that we haven't yet defined.
What do I want from those around me? A listening and understanding ear, respect for all, loving themself and their neighbor, honesty, curiosity, eye for beauty, willingness to learn new things, participate in and support community, courage throughout each day, an optimistic view of eternity grounded in reality, sharing with those in need, and a faith that God loves us and will do good for us within His will?
What if those in our groups took the Boy Scout Oath? "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."
How about the Girl Scout Law? "I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout."
Goodness, rooted in a good heart, is infectious and if it starts within each of us then we'll likely all enjoy a better life - "Let it Start with Me."
The only church in town will work out their lives together according to the revealed Word of God. It will be a reverent place of relationships - me with God in Christ, me with me, me with you, and you with you.
Just for today...
"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving." Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809 - 94)
"I will not reserve my deference and respect for outsiders whom I want to please or my pleasant expressions for those I want to impress. The people I live with are worthy of my best behavior..." One Day at a Time (p. 307)
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