It astounds me how much this generalisation works in this life—certainly not 100 percent of the time, but for consistent results most of the time, we do reap what we sow.
But we live in a time where many people expect to be “blessed” by others without seeking to be a blessing in the first instance. People in this situation expect to be understood by others without seeking to understand others. The commonest sign of this phenomenon is those who easily take umbrage.
No matter what they say to the contrary, notice how those who are easily alarmed and who routinely shriek about injustice seem somehow always on the lookout for it. I noticed this about myself a few years ago.
Our unconscious biases are instructional because they explain our worldviews. Also, what we think about most grows, which is just another way of saying our biases drive us.
The person who has insight is constantly seeking evidence to answer the question, “Am I seeing right?” Only such a person is devoted to the truth. They’re looking for observable evidence which could be corroborated.
However, the one who sees truth outside of themselves, in that they see the truth through the lens of what others are doing wrong or right, without doing much self-inquiry, probably has very little insight.
Think about it. What does it say about people when they speak as authorities on matters, when in fact there’s not a lot of alignment in their position and knowledge to speak on matters?
This is a challenge for every one of us, especially in social realms when compromises on truth are commonplace, and especially when social norms force us to smile and laugh off what should never be said in the first place.
Sowing in trust that we’ll eventually reap what we’re sowing must be done by faith. This is because we need to keep going and not give up when we don’t reap what we’re sowing.
This is the perfect introduction to the St Francis Prayer of peace.
In being an instrument of peace, using the St Francis Prayer we can say these things:
Wherever there is division and dissent, especially when it’s toward us, we must sow love, remembering it’s hard to love others when they’re fighting with us or angry toward us.
Wherever there is harm done, especially when it’s done to us, we must sow grace, remembering it’s hard to forgive others when they’ve done harmful things or betrayed us.
Wherever there is fear and doubt, especially when people lack confidence in us, we must sow faithfully, remembering it’s hard to have confidence when others would detract.
Wherever there is despair, whether it’s within us or among others, we must sow hope, remembering it’s hard to be hopeful and express joy when all seems lost.
Wherever darkness bears down, and people are expecting the worst, we must sow the beam of light that leads us out of such situations.
Wherever there is sorrow with the absence of life and hope, especially when there’s nothing whatsoever good to see, we must sow joy, and that must come from within us.
Wherever there is the need of consolation, especially when our own needs are high, we must sow consolation toward others in faith, remembering it’s hard to see others’ despair when we’re despairing.
Wherever there is the need of understanding, especially when we feel most misunderstood, we must sow understanding that knows how important and powerful it is simply to be understood.
Wherever there is the need of love and forgiveness, especially when our own hurts loom large, we must sow mercy and grace, remembering it’s hardest to see others’ need of mercy and grace when we don’t see our own need of them.
These are the keys to life, the life of living out our love which is maturity.
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