I can’t remember all the details of this memory, but I can express the most important part which is the heart of this post.

I can remember as a child being captivated by this little ball, I don’t remember where I was or how this little ball came to be in this place, but I saw a little ball held within a little case and I wanted it. The ball itself looked almost like an opal, it was a light cream color and it seemed to have a slight swirling pattern in it. All the way around this ball was a groove and within this groove was a ribbon, the ribbon bore the words of the golden rule upon it. The golden rule states,

Treat others the way you would want to be treated. 

As this memory comes back to my mind I wonder if I am living by those words that captivated me so long ago? What does this little rule mean and am I really living by it’s code of conduct? Unfortunately I can say that I have fallen far from living my life by this.

It seems that I never understood what the term ‘others’ meant, does this mean my family only, or people who believe like me, or only to those who treat me well?

If you love only those who love you, what goodness do you have? And if you are doing good to those who treat you well, what goodness do you have? And if you borrow from those you expect to get something back, do you deserve any thanks for that?

Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting anything in return. Then your reward will be great and you shall be children of Love for Love is kind toward the ungrateful and malicious.

From what I just quoted it seems others means everyone, not just family, friends, or anyone who we know will return our kindness. We are supposed to be kind to those who will never return our kindness for only then will we truly understand the concept of friendship, love, and kindness.

Why have we twisted this simple saying? Why do humans use their intellect to twist the simple meaning of life and love? Loving your neighbors does not mean love your family or love those who think like you do, if that were true it would say love your brother or love your family but it doesn’t, it says to love your neighbor and neighbor is define as a person who lives near another or one’s fellow human beings. Personally I see a neighbor as anyone who is traveling with you on life’s journey in this present moment, for example when you walk into a store, everyone around you is your neighbor.

I will not twist the simple meaning of the golden rule anymore for now I see that it was designed to help me become a better vessel of Love, love for others and for myself. If I want to be more loving then I must start giving more love, for the only way to receive is to give.

I lost that ball a long time ago but the memory stayed within me, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself and change my perception, for nothing is done in vain, everything has meaning and purpose.