Inclusive:  including, relating to, comprehensive  

I grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, in the era of the civil rights marches.  I was blessed to have parents and other family, who taught me to respect and love all people, and to respect and love myself.  Dr Martin Luther King, Jr’s church was in my hometown.  It was a time of jingoism:  extreme and emotional nationalism.  I remember studying that word, jingoism, in school.  I didn’t know then why I would always remember it.  Now I understand the changes I’ve seen.

Now our country reflects our changing world.  We are finally creating a world, which Dr King once described, “a world in which my little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”  Children of tomorrow will know that any limitation in their own potential will exist only within themselves.  They will grow up in the limitless consciousness of the human family that we are becoming.

The world is sending us a symbolic message.  Those of us who live in freedom around the world have great responsibility now.  It is a good time to ask ourselves:

~Am I using my gift of freedom to promote love on this planet?

~How can I love my neighbors here on the planet?

In the Aramaic language, the language of the greatest prophets who influenced the great religions of the world, a neighbor is: anyone near me, anyone I think about, and their operating selves, and belongings.

There’s a beautiful directive of love that is popularly called The Golden Rule...”Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Did you know the Golden Rule can be found in every major world religion?  In Buddhism: “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”  In Christianity: “And as ye would that men should do unto you, do ye also to them likewise.”  In Hinduism: “Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.”  In Islam: “None of you believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”  Judaism: “..thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” In Taoism: “Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss.”  These are but a few examples among many.

Remember, you have a whole human family of neighbors.  Love them, love yourself, love your freedom, love this planet.  Every day, I try to reflect on the words of Richard Bach, on a small plaque that hangs in my kitchen.  He said, “The bond that links true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each others lives.”

Respect and Joy….

Pass it on…Love your neighbors… Live the Golden Rule.

Joy & Blessings, Carole xx