Thought for the day – Monday 25 May
Dear All
Seldom in the news do the best examples of good human behaviour ever grab the headlines, that is until recently of course. Now almost every day we hear of the decency, thoughtfulness and kindness shown in so many and imaginative ways by ordinary folk not looking for any praise or reward, but truly worthy of it.
The truth is that even before this lockdown the same kindness and generosity was still there in abundance, it’s just that it never attracted attention. That same generous spirit of human compassion will surely continue long after the initial, damaging impact of our current crisis has abated, of that I’m certain.
Many, the great long-suffering majority, in fact, have all followed good guidance and put others before themselves as a matter of national duty, ‘doing their bit’. Everyone who has simply done what they’ve been asked to do is praiseworthy, though no praise is ever sought.
We are all yearning for many of the little things that we take for granted every day. Grandparents missing their grandchildren, parents missing their children, teenagers and young folk missing their pals. Everyone, in fact, is missing someone or something. It is all tolerable but ‘painful’ too.
You may not like me for saying what I’m going to say but, I’m going to say it anyway. That’s the privilege we have in this wonderful country we live in. We can speak and write freely, not with an air of self-righteousness but being able to express our feelings and that’s all I’m doing.
I love my country and I respect those who differ from me. I will argue my point, not with arrogance but with humble conviction and instinct, that’s surely OK to do isn’t, it? ‘Instinct’ is OK according to Mr Cummings and the Prime Minister. I trust you will agree. Everyone has the same right.
Our Prime Minister until recently had, I believe, our support, generally speaking. The various political parties put country first and have avoided cheap political point-scoring, for the time being at least.
Our Prime Minister, however, let us down yesterday by his dismissive and defiant attitude in ‘defending’ his maverick Chief Advisor, Dominic Cummings. Not that there is a lack of sympathy for Mr Cummings’ family and especially where children are involved, but many others have to endure so much worse.
Jesus when speaking was addressing hypocrisy and whenever I am speaking or writing I am painfully aware of my own failings and faults. Others are aware of them too, my faults that is, regrettably. None of us are without fault and we can all be hypocritical. I keep that in mind.
What Jesus said is obvious and needs no commentary from me. Our good deeds should really not be public dramas but quiet, sincere and in secret. We all know the saying about ‘blowing your own trumpet’ and that just about says it all. Jesus said we shouldn’t do it.
Today I ask you to think/meditate on these things.
God bless you!
Jim
MATTHEW 6: 1-4
“Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
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