The children were having such a grand time. They both weighed nearly the same so the seesaw was balanced just right. As one went up and the other went down it dawned on me that this is the faulty formula many people practice hoping to succeed in life. In order to rise they mistakenly think they must push others down. It is much like a presidential campaign. Please don’t dare say anything good about your opponent lest you are perceived as being weak and endorsing them.
In reality when we disrespect another we disrespect ourselves. We cannot fling mud and stay clean. Rarely can we say something behind someone’s back that it does not eventually reach their ears. Life and success does not have to be a seesaw. As we lift others we also lift ourselves. The Golden Rule does work. Jesus did know what He was talking about and He should. He made us. He is the master psychologist. However, it is second nature for us to play the seesaw game. This is where we need help. When we catch ourselves indulging let’s lightly bite our tongues (we would be stupid to bite them hard) and back up and start our sentence again.
Paul tells us to be inventive in hospitality. (Romans 13:12 in The Message paraphrase.) Let’s be inventive in saying nice things about others. But we might object and say we shouldn’t lie. But when we don’t say nice things we are lying because people aren’t as bad as we make them out to be. Well, most people anyway. There are a few sociopaths around, but not very many. Most people are just like you and me. They play the seesaw game.
Written by Roger Bothwell on June 22, 2013
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org