I watch with amusement when the world "discovers" a Biblical truth and kind of plays it up as this grand, new idea. They love to pat themselves on the back and yell "attaboy" as they put into practice some truth that's been around for ages.

I'm thinking specifically today of the flurry of recent commercials that show someone being nice to someone else who does it for someone else and so on. There's a couple of insurance companies, an investment firm (I think) and a soft drink that have recently played up this idea. Hello? Golden rule ring a bell for anyone? In fact, that's not just a Christian principle, it's one that's been in existence in numerous faith traditions in some form or another for thousands of years. The only twist is this--Christ said it differently than anyone else. Rather than "do unto others what they have done to you" (the way it's said in the other religions), Jesus said "do to others what you would have them do to you." It's a kind of "preemptive strike" in the love category. And the world loves the idea. Make someone's day a little easier. Brighten the corner where you live. It makes great sense.

So, why don't we do more of it? How come it only takes one jerk on the road driving like a madman to make all of us go crazy? Why is it an oddity when someone--without notice or fame--chooses to serve someone else, love someone else, or make someone else's day less of a burden? Jesus knew that it goes against human nature, especially when you live in a 21st century "me-first" culture. But wouldn't all of us be a little better served if we took the Golden Rule to be a Godly truth and a Holy mandate for our lives? Starting right now, what would the world look like (at least your corner of it) if you dropped what you were doing and served someone by rolling their trashcan in from the curb, pumping their gas or watering their flowers? Christ said, "He who wants to be first must learn to be last and be a servant to others." I'm not entirely sure what that has to do with good insurance but, hey, let the world think they've discovered something new. We all live in a better world when one person chooses to make a difference.