Scripture: Matthew 7:12
Therefore, you should treat people in the same way that you want people to treat you; this is the Law and the Prophets.
Thought for the Day: I have been reading a lot of Søren Kierkegaard lately, the Danish theologian and poet. I can read just a page or two, and inevitably there will be at least one thought that challenges me to the core. One such line, at first glance, seemed rather mundane. But on reading it a second time, it jumped off the page and stuck with me. Kierkegaard wrote, “Once you label me you negate me.” Think about it! We do it all the time in regard to gender, race, religion, economics, age, weight, education, profession, disability, quirks, etc. How often have you heard someone say, “Those people…” because one person who happened to fall into one such category did something that triggered a fear or insecurity. All of a sudden, everyone who fits that category is like that. As people of faith, we are to meet people for who they are – treating them as we desire to be treated. No label or category defines any person, and in fact, quite often hides a person’s true identity.
Prayer: Give me a heart, O God of Mercy, to see my brothers and sisters beyond the categories that are so often used. Give me a spirit that yearns to know the soul of another without being distorted by labels. Amen.
