Have you ever had a nudge to be compassionate or to do a loving act, and after about three seconds of thinking you decide not to do the loving act? Many of us are not naturally compassionate people, and when the nudge comes we let our selfish nature override the compassionate or loving urge. Some of us have to be trained to “un-self.” Maybe that is what the Golden Rule is really all about. “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” To “un-self,” first you have to look at others, think about them and their situations. Secondly, you have to slow down and put yourself in their shoes. If you were where they are, what would you want them to do for you. Then you go and act. The Golden Rule is Jesus’ prescription for “unselfing.” So next time you have an urge to love or to do a compassionate thing, stop, look, and then act. Your action should be the answer to the question, “What would I like someone to do for me in that situation?” – Dr. Tim Thompson
Great words, and timely. We saw so many examples of this during the snow/ice crisis. From teachers making children feel safe in overnight situations to good Samaritans on the roadways, there was a lot of “unselfing.” At least that was some good that came out of it all.