How Do I Act?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the
Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with
your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV)
One of the news shown
yesterday on the Manorama News shocked me. Though such news are common now what
shocked me was that those who learnt that the greatest gift that can be given
is life, discarded the same to their mother.
A mother met a tragic end
on Sunday without being able to catch even the last glimpse of her children
whom she had brought up. Sudha Devi, a native of Kadakavur, near
Thiruvananthapuram , breathed her last in a private hospital and departed to a
world sans griefs. The hospital authorities had informed Sudha Devi’s daughter
(a doctor) and her son ( a health inspector) when the condition of the aged
mother worsened, but they took an indifferent stand and refused to pay heed.
The old woman was brought to an old age home in Anayara with an advanced stage
of liver cirrhosis. After admitting her in the hospital, the woman’s daughter
was contacted to communicate the situation over the phone. “She didn’t go after
informing us. So we have no responsibility. Do whatever you want to,” was the
reply. They were unmoved even when they were told that the matter would
be reported to the Women’s Commission and a case would be filed.
(Source: english.manoramaonline.com)
Does God have an interest
in this part of our life? Does he take delight in the way we do things at home
or the office or the kitchen? Is any wrong behavior in these non-religious
areas so significant that God would even call them an abomination?
I believe that everything
we do in our everyday lives has to fit into the criteria of justice in order to
be a godly life. Whatever I do, I need to ask myself: Is it just or fair, is it
kind to other people, is it done in humility and awareness of God’s presence?
It is tempting, to think that being
believers in God is about doing religious things. This verse is a protest
against this idea. Prophets often had to deal with a nation which misunderstood
what faith was about. They were doing all the religious stuff, they were
offering sacrifices, but they forgot justice and kindness.
The need for justice extends beyond our
religious life. We are challenged to always ask ourselves: When we deal with
family members – our spouse or children or parents – are we just? When we deal
with employees, clients or neighbours, are we fair? When we decide which
products to put in our baskets in the supermarket, do we think about the
justice implications towards producers and farmers? Whatever we do, this must
be a constant question in the back of our minds: Is it just?
We need to remember that doing justice and
being kind to people is done in the context of a journey. We are all on a
journey with God. We are all in different stages on our journey. That is why
humility is important. It is not just or kind to criticize and look
down on others who are perhaps on another stage in their journey than we
are. Recognizing that we are on different stages on the way, giving each other
the consideration and freedom to find our own way is what I believe the Indian
Constitution gives us.
As we celebrate 67th Republic
Day today first let us make our homes a place of justice and peace before we
venture out in having nation-wide peace which also is very important. Happy
Republic Day to you.
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