Finding
Goodness
By Rafiq Ebrahim
Glen Ellyn IL
An ideal definition of a good
person is that he behaves nicely and courteously,
is full of love and kindness, cares for others
and contributes to the betterment of society –
in short, spreads sweetness and light wherever
he goes. Likewise, a bad person can be defined
as rude, full of hatred, selfish and offering
negative contribution towards mankind. In our
relationship with people we can easily distinguish
whether a person we meet is good or bad. We naturally
behave nicely with the good ones and keep our
distance from the bad ones.
We have labeled them as good or bad, but under
which label are we ourselves to be placed? If
we reflect honestly, we will find out that we
have both good and bad qualities in us; which
one is dominant depends on the type of person
we are. So a good person may have a streak of
badness in him and a bad person may have some
goodness hidden inside him, but to know these
qualities may take time. Generally a man is labeled
by his behavior.
Man is really a complex creature and to truly
understand him is not an easy task. I have known
people who drink a lot, gamble and behave arrogantly.
But when they confront a needy person, they open
up their wallet for him. I have known people who
are pious, offer regular prayers, behave kindly
with others, but shrink away when they are required
to help others.
Nobody is bad when he is born. He is just an innocent
babe. Goodness is a quality that is acquired.
A little child does not know the difference between
good and evil, but he learns it. His first learning
station is his home. Unconsciously or consciously
he picks up qualities found in people at home,
particularly the parents. He studies the behavior
of his mother, father, sister(s) and brother(s)
and the seed of either goodness or evil is planted
in his nascent mind –he is on his way to
becoming a good or a bad person.
He then goes to school and is at once bombarded
by qualities present in teachers and other students.
If constant goodness comes his way, he may become
a good person, and if people around him are rude,
he may acquire those qualities temporarily. If
these qualities match with those found at home,
he is sure to become a negative person. On the
other hand, if he is imbued with good moral and
ethical values and exposed to kindness, his acquired
bad qualities will give way to goodness. So, it
is the home of a child that is his real training
station.
Now, let’s see. What happens when we confront
a bad person? We will do one of the three things:
a) We will behave likewise; even try to fight
with him verbally. He will fight back. Nothing
will be achieved, but more ill feelings will be
generated and the person you are confronting will
get worse. Evil will be spread around widely.
b) You will keep away from him. You will contribute
nothing towards the general betterment of mankind.
Of course, sometimes you do have to be really
at a distance from people who are hard-boiled
sinners and criminals, or those whose conscience
is dead, or those who harm you in one way or the
other. It’s best to avoid them, and pray
to God to lead them on the right path and have
mercy on them.
c) You behave nicely with him, and search for
the hidden goodness in him, ignoring the badness
that lurks over him. Being good to such a person
may or may not make him behave nicely with you,
but you will have the satisfaction of planting
a seed of goodness! It will take some time to
germinate. Besides, the immediate impact will
be that a serene feeling of peace will invade
your heart. It will make you feel elated, and
desirous to do more acts of goodness. Herein lies
the essence of all that religions teach us.
It is not probable – just wishful thinking
– that if more and more people follow the
path of goodness; the world would be a better
place to live in.
Why not make a beginning? Kill the badness in
others with your weapon of goodness. Act kindly,
nourish love for all mankind and make goodness
a second nature.
A short poem by John Wesley can sum up this piece:
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can’
At all the times you can’
To all the people you can’
As long as ever you can.
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