He has told you, O mortal, what is good,
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice and to love kindness
and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
To live the good life doesn’t require money, power, land, or big houses. It does require me to live a life that cares more for justice and mercy than my ego. I am required to care for the homeless, the orphan, the stranger, the sick, the elderly, and to bring comfort to those incarcerated (Matthew 25:35-45).
I am not someone who will walk the streets spouting dogma. I am a person who tries her hardest to work for justice for those who have been denied it. I try to speak for those who don’t have a voice, the poor, the sick, animals, and creation. I try my hardest to be kind to those who are in need of a helping hand, a word of encouragement, or need care but are denied it. To do otherwise is to deny my very being.
It is not easy walking such a path, requiring me to forego my own comfort or immediate satisfaction. Yet, such a way of life is much more satisfying by giving me the opportunity to be part of the greater community, and seeing the results gives others the opportunity to survive and thrive.
I am not trying to preach or suggest that I have all the answers. Nor do I want anyone to think I am proselytizing for my faith. No, rather, I am telling you how I see the world, taught to me by my parents. It is each person’s responsibility to make the decision to act in a righteous way. No matter how you respond to the day’s issues you, and me. will be held accountable for all our actions, did we hinder or assist the greater community, human and creation.
Living a good life doesn’t mean just surviving for 70 or 80 years, we are to be part of the world, to interact with and encourage all who live around us no matter who they are. Life becomes, maybe not easier, more enjoyable and peace oriented when we are part of the world as participants who care for all humanity and creation.
Ruth Jewell.
A Quiet Walk 