I just finished watching the move "Gandhi", which was an eye-opener to say the least. It is unbelievable how one ordinary person could change the world by just being himself and standing up for what he believed in wherever he went.
One of the most important lessons I have learned from watching that movie is to always stand for justice wherever God puts me. I don't have to be part of something great to begin with, but living out my normal life may be the beginning of a revolution.
Unlike many of my peers, I am a non-violent person. I have only hit another person a handful of times in my entire life, and it was always either playful and/or not very painful. I'm what most people call a "nice" person. The downfall for me has been that I tend to let people walk all over me, which is fine, that's my choice. But it's another thing to let people walk all over other people and do nothing about it.
Many of Gandhi's principles came from the bible that I constantly study.
Yet, unlike many of us (including myself most days), he actually lived it out. He was a professed Hindu, Muslim, Jew, and Christian. As far as it depended on him, he lived at peace with everyone and influenced others to do the same.
There is a fine line between being passive and non-violent. It's very hard to be non-violent without being passive, but Gandhi proved that it can be done. He believed that any and every evil in the world can be defeated by means that do not include violence or a passive attitude. He was a peaceful warrior.
My prayer today is that I may be a peaceful warrior. I saw a lot of similarities between Gandhi and myself, especially in the way that he was willing to let himself be trampled on for the sake of others, willing to take that extra step to help someone out. Of course, I am only human, and even when I might want to take that extra step, my selfishness often gets the better of me. But the desire is there.
Gandhi's wife said to him when he told her it was her turn to rake the latrines that, "It's the work of untouchables, and you ask your wife to do this?" Gandhi replied softly, "We must all do our part as equals, there are no untouchables here," and she said, "Not all of us are as good as you, and most of us don't even want to be."
It's true. Some people are born with a desire to do good and are just automatically consciencous (considerate of other's feelings). Some people develop this as they grow older, and some never do. If everyone was like Gandhi, everyone would be wanting to out-do everyone else with goodness, but as it is, there is a balance between those who just don't think of others except on occasion or when it serves themselves, and those that care little for themselves. Gandhi was one of the latter.
Even as I was seeing some similarities between Gandhi and myself, I also saw many differences. Gandhi had no presumtion about him, no need to be accepted by others, or to be respected. He was like a child. People couldn't help but smile when they saw him. And though like a child, he had the wisdom of King Solomon. It reminded me of the scripture that tells us to be innocent as doves and cunning as snakes. Gandhi exemplified this.
So, like Gandhi, and like Jesus, from whom Gandhi recieved much of his insight,
let us not be violent and revengeful, but let us not be passive either.
Put aside malice, envy, and rage, and replace it with determination, justice, and love.
Be willing to turn the other cheek, not just metaphorically, but physically.
Show courage in the face of your enemies, and do not run from suffering, but endure.
When you see someone struggling, lend them a hand.
Give up your lunch and go hungry for a couple of hours to feed a person who hasn't had a meal in days.
Consider the needs of the world and look at little ways you can try to bring about change.
Don't think big, think small. Think in your workplace, "What can I do to make this person's day go more smoothly, how can I serve them?"
Instead of, "How can I make my day better, how can I serve myself?"
It is counter-culture, it seems against human nature--that's because it is.
And that's what makes it all the more worthwhile.
Quotes to Consider:
"A new commandment I give to you: Love one another as I have loved you...be willing to give your life for your fellow...consider others to be more important than yourselves,"
-Jesus
"True morality consists, not in following the beaten track, but in finding out the true path for ourselves and in fearlessly following it." -Gandhi
"If I take anything that I do not need for my own immediate use, and keep it, I thieve it from somebody else. I am no socialist and I do not want to dispossess those who have got possessions: but I do say that, personally, those of us who want to see light out of darkness have to follow this rule. If somebody else possesses more than I do, let him. But so far as my own life has to be regulated, I do say that I dare not possess anything which I do not want. You and I have no right to anything that we really have until these three [starving ] millions are clothed and fed better. You and I, who ought to know better, must adjust our wants, and even undergo voluntary starvation in order that they may be nursed, fed and clothed." - Gandhi
For more on Gandhi see this page: http://www.mkgandhi.org/main.htm
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The first quote pretty much summarizes what i want my goal to be in life. Love God, Love Others. I've been contemplating the same thing lately.
May you achieve your goal! And thank you for posting this.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman