The Golden Rule

Day 264 of Photo Inspirations — The Golden Rule
I remember, as a kid in “public” grade school, that “The Golden Rule” was taught, and emphatically brought to remembrance when one of us needed discipline.  It set the tone for our respect and appreciation for each other.  The teachers would quote it to a kid who was a bully (yes, there were bullies back on those days, too) or to a kid who was being disrespectful to their teachers or peers.

Whatever our religious persuasions and faiths may be, if we lived our lives adhering to those beautiful words from Matthew 7:12 — making them the absolute non-negotiable in our lives, this world would be such a better place.

Yesterday, Pope Francis became the first pope ever to address a joint meeting of Congress.  Of course, on this historic day and occasion, this photo was most certainly my photo inspiration for today.

In his address to Congress, Pope Francis said, “Let us remember the Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’.
This Rule points us in a clear direction. Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves. Let us help others to grow, as we would like to be helped ourselves. In a word, if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us. The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development.”

I love this Pope.  I love his example of love and compassion for the poor and needy…..and he not only talks the talk, but walks the walk — of expressing it in deed.  “The Golden Rule,” is indeed a biblical principle. Luke 6:31 records Jesus saying, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This statement is in the context of a lesson from Jesus about loving our enemies. Jesus led by example — He treated people that way.  Rather than doing to others what they have done to us or giving them what they may deserve, we are to treat them the way we want them to treat us.

These words by Pope Francis rang loud and clear in my heart today.  If we take his lead, just maybe we can be a conduit of living out Jesus’ words as we treat others the way we want to be treated.  “The Golden Rule” will be the best “rule of measure” we use daily to spread love and peace in our world.