Hello All!
Today’s devotional comes from Gregg Lehman. Gregg is an Adjunct Professor of Management teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the Neeley School of Business and the John V. Roach Honors College at TCU. Gregg is an evangelist for critical thinking and the application of historical context to modern problems. He also is an avid supporter of all things related to our first year experience for our incoming students! There is not an orientation parent reception that Gregg is not present for greeting new parents and offering warm hospitality and insight into our wonderful campus. He is married to another TCU employee, Meg Lehman, has two young adult children both attending college in Virginia, and has the best bow tie collection around. May his devotional today help us all remember the simplest of acts make the most difference. Peace to you on your Lenten journey. –Rev. Lea McCracken, Associate Chaplain
Matthew 7:12
So in everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Reflection:
When my son was 10, we were having a discussion about proper behavior as he transitioned from the relatively protective environment of elementary school to the more complex world of middle school with its attendant stimulus changes of puberty, brain development, academic pressure, and shifting social dynamics. The conversation meandered through a myriad of topics which all imbedded a list of do’s and don’ts; heavy on the don’ts. As I reached the conclusion of my admonitions, my son attempted to summarize our discussion. He said, “So, if I don’t get caught, its not illegal, right?” Clearly…I failed in my instruction.
A long list of intelligent people have variously professed as to how we should decide the proper course of action when faced with a choice. Aristotle, Plato, Cicero, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, John Rawls, Immanuel Kant, and John Locke all ruminated and pontificated on the issue. But it was Jesus who gave us what has come to be known as the “Golden Rule”: ”Do to others what you would have them do to you.”
I like this rule as it focuses on the “do’s” rather than the “don’ts”. In a world where I often feel out of control and reactive, unable to influence the state of affairs in the society in which I live, I focus on those things I can control; that is, how I treat “others,” whoever they are. To that end, I strive each day to treat “them” as I would want to be treated, even “when I don’t get caught.”
Let us pray:
Dear Lord, may we all remember to do to others what we would have them do to us, even when no one is watching. A simple prayer for a simple lesson. Amen.