The Golden Rule

I was recently in the company of an old friend
Whose too common attitude could so easily offend.
He was hesitant to buy his residence near my own
Because there were too many people "different" than he had always known.

Funny that I'd just heard from Charles Osgood on radio news
That Dale Carnegie wrote over a hundred years ago to share some very relevant views.
He wrote about a concept considered to be common sense, but not a common act
A thing preached to our parents' parents as the golden rule, in fact.

"Love your neighbor" describes a two-way relationship, friend or stranger
Based on both sides seeing equality, not fear or danger.
Psychologically, this means empathy, not lack of concern
Philosophically, it involves perceiving others as equal in return.

Religion played an integral part in the history of the Golden Rule
Prominent figures and philosophers taught it in school.
This concept appears in many religions, including Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, to name a few
The Golden Rule can be found in some form in almost every ethical and traditional view.

So, why do we keep paying for books over the centuries that keep restating what we already comprehend
And why did my friend still fear moving to an area where people "different" from him represent a barrier he can not transcend?
It still comes down to that same old rule that becomes the key
Each individual has free will, no matter what race, religion, sex, or creed ... we each have a soul yearning to be spiritually free.

© Sheryl A. Skutelsky, 2012. All rights reserved.

Reruns

Tired of living the same script
Feeling like the scales of justice are tipped?
Having that sense of deja vu
Like nothing is truly new?

The actors may change
Some of the scenes may even
rearrange
But the ending is always the same
Are you wondering who's to blame?

Are the hands of fate pushing you to go
Like chess pieces to and fro
Or are you wondering if it's a plan
And if so, why don't you understand?

Try listening to that inner voice
The one that's forcing you to make each choice.
You've heard it once or twice
No coincidences, only advice.

Our souls understand
The paths that God planned
Some say we even chose our life
Imagine, we might have picked such strife!

Bridges burned, lessons learned
A better ending can be earned.
We can choose to ignore
And flounder not knowing what's in store.

Or ... We can pay attention to any holy book we choose
The message within is bound to the same basic rules.
Choose your acts wisely based on love from within
Perhaps, the reruns will end, and the happy endings will begin.

© Sheryl A. Skutelsky, 2012. All rights reserved.