| Strength and Beauty |
Chapter 23 |
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A man who is generous in his opinions of others receives charitableness of opinion in return. Of course, this does not mean that if we always treat others gently, others will always treat us gently. Kindest hearted men are sometimes used most unkindly. Jesus himself never judged others harshly, and yet he was cruelly slain by those he had come to bless. The statement is general, and in general it is true, that mercifulness in us will make others merciful towards us. What we give we shall receive.
This is true on both the divine and the human side. The unforgiving cannot get God’s forgiveness. It is put in the liturgy of penitence that we must forgive before we can even ask for forgiveness. “Forgive us our debts, for we have forgiven.” If we will not show mercy we cannot even ask to have mercy shown to us. Then, with men, too, sternness finds sternness, resentment meets with resentment. He who sees no good in others must not be surprised, and must not complain, if others fail to see any good in him. The man who has only harsh words for his fellows cannot expect to hear words of love from others concerning himself.
Human lives are like those echoes that we find here and there among the hills, which send back every sound that is heard before them. You speak, and your words are echoed back to your ears. You sing, and your song returns again to you. If one talks loudly and angrily, one hears loud and angry words reverberating in the air. If one speaks gently and sweetly, the echo faithfully reports back not the words only, but the tone as well.
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