THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Don’t let the milk of human kindness turn sour

I was watching a TV drama the other night and one of the characters in it, a bishop, was being asked about how is it possible for the faithful to balance so many diverse interpretations of the scriptures.
Caring for each other should be the golden ruleCaring for each other should be the golden rule
Caring for each other should be the golden rule

The bishop answered, there are only two rules to worry about, love God and love each other.

As a Humanist I cannot claim to love any god but the second part of that fictional bishops statement rings true for every Humanist and for every decent person of faith, no matter the faith.

The Golden Rule is something we might all agree as being a universal good in that if we treat others as we would like to be treated, the world would be a much better place.

How would we like to be treated though, for we cannot deliver unto others what we have yet to identify as making our own life content.

For me, I always feel happier when I am with people who are kind and compassionate and are able to see beyond their own selfish needs. That’s not to say that I recognise those traits within myself all of the time, but a degree of empathy and kindness shown to others does seem to be of benefit.

Shakespeare coined the phrase, ‘the milk of human kindness’ and it seems so often in modern life that the milk has soured.

Rather than give in to cynicism and give up on happiness, perhaps we should direct our best efforts into trying to find a fresh supply?

The Golden Rule can be a simple yet powerful tenet for a better life but only if we act upon it:

We have committed the Golden Rule to memory; let us now commit it to life. (Edwin Markham)

DREW BAXTER, Humanist

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