The Golden Rule

As I watched some of the Kavanaugh hearings yesterday, I couldn't help but think about the words of Jesus to the accusers of the woman caught in adultery, "You, without sin, cast the first stone." As I type this post for today, Judge Kavanaugh's words resonate with me: "I ask you to judge me by the standard that you would want applied to your father. Your husband. Your brother. Or your son."

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

Oh. My. Goodness. Why isn’t “The Golden Rule” more prominent in our schools, workplaces, homes, politics – literally, EVERYWHERE, today? Whatever our religious or faith persuasions might be, what a difference it would make if we lived our lives with adhering to those beautiful words from Matthew 7:12 "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." If we made those words the absolute non-negotiable in our lives, this world would be such a better place.

This Rule points us in a clear direction of treating everyone with dignity, honor, respect, and kindness which is the way we want to be treated. What if we sought out for others the same potential and possibilities which we seek for ourselves? What if we helped others as we would like to be helped ourselves?

If we want love, let us give love; if we want kindness, let us give kindness; if we want respect, let us give respect; if we want "innocent until proven guilty", let us judge others as "innocent until proven guilty". If we desire to not be judged, may we not judge others. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us.

"The Golden Rule," is indeed a biblical principle. Luke 6:31 also 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.

If we lived by “The Golden Rule, just maybe we would 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.

The Butterfly Effect – Cause & Effect

The Butterfly Effect phrase is attributed to a mild-mannered meteorology professor at MIT, Edward Lorenz. He simply entered numbers into a computer program simulating weather patterns and then left his office to get a cup of coffee while the computer crunched away. When he returned, he noticed a result that would change the course of science. The computer’s results led Lorenz to a powerful insight that flapping of wings could move molecules of air in a chain reaction that can set off a storm a world away. The idea came to be known as the “butterfly effect” after Lorenz suggested: small actions can have large consequences.

That’s astounding. The gentle, subdued and graceful flapping of a butterfly’s wings could produce way more than that butterfly’s enjoyment of a flower’s nectar. Doesn’t that make us wonder what the effects of an angry bull charging its victim might produce?

Thinking about this theory reminded me of Isaac Newton’s laws of physics. I’m not a physics scholar by any means but I do know his law of cause and effect. For example, if we know that sending love to someone will make us feel loved, then we can take the first step to end the cycle of loneliness by sending out love to someone else. And, if we know that tolerance towards others will create a situation where others are tolerant towards us, then we can try and be more understanding and begin healing a difficult personal relationship.

The "butterfly effect" and the theory of cause and effect makes me think about the Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12) I began to think about the effect that others have had on me and in particular, my Mom who modeled faith in many times of crisis. She influenced me with her behavior. The “flapping of her wings” created an effect that wasn’t a storm – but a storm chaser.

What about the effect that someone, or some incident, has had on your life? Think about those influences that made you who you are today. Maybe watching your single Mom work several jobs to give you the best education and now, look at you: you're making tremendous sacrifices to give your children the best education. In fact, you may be seeing the butterfly effect on your grandchildren because your children were so impacted by your life of commitment and dedication to what you believed in most.

We can trace back farther into the past and see that each person’s action has far-reaching effects into the future whether he or she knows it or not. The action of alcoholism in a parent may have effected alcoholism in his children or that honorable, faithful, and loving parent may have created honorable, devoted and loving children and grandchildren.

We were created by God to make a difference in the world. Our actions, whether good or bad, will impact lives in a chain of events. What we do with our lives matters forever. May we choose wisely how we live. We could be the “cause and effect” that turns the tide in someone's life. Just a pebble in the water can set the sea in motion -- a simple act of kindness could stir someone's life to greatness. Our lives matter.

If we show a little love -- heaven knows what we could change if we lived by asking ourselves “What effect am I having on those around me? A storm or being a storm chaser?" This world may never be the same -- because of our "BUTTERFLY" effect.

The Butterfly Effect phrase is attributed to a mild-mannered meteorology professor at MIT, Edward Lorenz. He simply entered numbers into a computer program simulating weather patterns and then left his office to get a cup of coffee while the computer crunched away. When he returned, he noticed a result that would change the course of science. The computer’s results led Lorenz to a powerful insight into the way nature works: small changes can have large consequences. The idea came to be known as the “butterfly effect” after Lorenz suggested that the flap of a butterfly’s wings might ultimately cause a tornado.

That’s amazing. The gentle, subdued and graceful flapping of a butterfly’s wings can produce way more than that butterfly’s enjoyment of a flower’s nectar. That flapping of wings can move molecules of air in a chain reaction that can set off a storm a world away. Doesn’t that make us wonder what the effects of an angry bull charging its victim might produce?

Learning this theory reminded me of Isaac Newton’s laws of physics. I’m not a physics scholar by any means but I do know his law of cause and effect. For example, if we know that sending love to someone will make us feel loved, then we can take the first step to end the cycle of loneliness by sending out love to someone else. And, if we know that tolerance towards others will create a situation where others are tolerant towards us, then we can try and be more understanding and begin healing a difficult personal relationship.

As I thought about the butterfly effect and the theory of cause and effect I couldn't help but think about the Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12) I began to think about the effect that others have had on me and in particular, my Mom who modeled faith in many times of crisis. She influenced me with her behavior. The “flapping of her wings” created an effect that wasn’t a storm – but a storm chaser.

What about the effect that someone, or some incident, has had on your life? Think about those influences that made you who you are today. Maybe watching your single Mom work several jobs to give you the best education and now, look at you -- you're making tremendous sacrifices to give your children the best education. In fact, you may be seeing the butterfly effect on your grandchildren because your children were so impacted by your life of commitment and dedication to what you believed in the most.

We can keep tracing back farther and farther into the past and see that each person’s action has far-reaching effects into the future whether he or she knows it or not. That alcoholic parent may have created alcoholism in his children and that strong, honorable, faithful, devoted and loving parent may have created strong, devoted and loving children and grandchildren.

We were created by God to make a difference in the world. Our actions, whether good or bad, will impact lives in a chain of events. What we do with our lives matters forever. May we choose wisely how we live. We could be the “effect” that turns the tide in someone's life. Just a pebble in the water can set the sea in motion -- a simple act of kindness could stir someone's life to greatness. Our lives matter.

If we show a little love -- heaven knows what we could change if we lived by “What effect am I having on those around me? A storm or being a storm chaser. This world may never be the same -- because of our BUTTERFLY effect.

Amping Up Back-To-School Prayers for Our Kids AND Us

I see and hear you mamas who are taking those kiddos to school and college. Some of you are elated to get them back-to-school after a long summer. But others, like my niece who took her daughter to college, said: "I'm not gonna lie, I teared up the moment we pulled onto the campus, again while decorating, and more as we walked about. I have a feeling that I’m not done yet!"

To help those moms saying goodbye to their new high school freshmen, I love how Tulsa's Bishop Kelley High School (where my nephew is a Math Teacher and the Girls' Soccer Coach) has a school tradition of the upperclassmen standing outside and welcoming the freshmen with signs that say "Kiss Your Mother Good-bye", and when they do kiss their mom, they scream for joy. Check out the video here: https://www.facebook.com/BKTulsa/videos/2004578409565118/

While the arrival of the school year brings a fresh, new start, it can carry new concerns to a mama’s heart. This photo is of my two on their first day of school (first grade and third grade in Cleveland, OK). I wondered how they would handle a brand-new school and classroom with kids they didn’t know and if they'd find a close "good" friend and not hang around the wrong crowd. I wondered if they'd do well in their classes. Some of you may be fretting about your prank-pulling middle schooler, earnestly hoping he doesn’t make a habit of getting called to the principal’s office. You may be stressing over academic concerns. “Will my struggling second grader ever make progress in her reading? Will math ever click with my fourth grader who gets hives when he sees a story problem? Will my high schooler graduate with honors, or better yet, will my high schooler graduate?"

But more than all those “school days” concerns, we also long for our kids to be spiritually and physically healthy. Long ago, in my children’s early years, I found an antidote to worrying about my children in the story of Mary and Jesus.

Luke 2:52 mentions four areas Jesus grew in as a young boy: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.” Our Lord grew wiser each year. He physically grew. His relationship with His heavenly Father continually strengthened. Jesus even gained favor with people here on earth who saw Him day to day. And how I love the simple sentence that precedes this: “His mother kept all these things in her heart.” We never see Mary fretting and fussing, worried and anxious. She pondered about her son and his growth, but she didn’t allow her mama heart to become rattled.

Let’s strive to be like Mary. Let’s turn our anxious thoughts into treasured prayers, kept safe and held fast by our loving Father — the one who knows our hearts and loves our children even more than we do. When a concern pops up in our mind, let’s carry that concern to God. When we start to fear for our child’s future, let’s petition the only one who knows exactly what the future holds -- THE ONE Who knows everything about everything.

When we turn our worries into our prayers, we'll realize our children aren’t the only ones being taught; we are learning life-long lessons in trusting and treasuring, knowing God is in control.

Heavenly Father, I pray for all these precious children that are starting a new school year. Protect them, encourage them and fill them with strong minds to learn and grow. Help them to be a great friend to others as they, themselves, have great friends. And, I pray for all the moms (and dads) to turn their concerns and worries into prayers, knowing You are in control. Please help them to treasure each moment with their children as they grow in wisdom and stature and favor with others and also with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving; let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

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.