The Golden Godlife

Every day I find myself sitting in my window seat in my office. It's my place to be before God as part of my focus of daily solitude. In fact, it's large enough for me to sit in and practice looking at myself and the world through God's eyes. This morning I couldn't help but notice the framed picture located on the wall directly in front of me. The Norman Rockwell print represents an amalgamation of various nationalities all standing together. Underneath are the words, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

As a veteran of Sunday Schools and Vacation Bible Schools, I am familiar with this principle based on Jesus' own words in Matthew 7:12, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Called the Golden Rule, this principle transcends all religions and cultures. You can find versions of this life rule planted within over 21 different religions. In fact, Jesus only expressed in a positive way what had already been written and expressed through people generations before. The difference is in the context...Jesus is saying because God gives you good gifts therefore you should love others out of gratitude to God based on a life of love. So for the Christian, the Golden Rule has a foundation in love which is centered in God. So it is in actuality the Golden Godlife. This is supposed to be a natural love lifestyle and not a legalistic rule of measurement.

So many times the windows of love in our lives get blocked and we operate out of selfishness and the Golden Godlife becomes, "Do unto others because they deserve it," or "Do unto others in order to have them do unto me." In both cases the focus is on me and my life and not the Godlife Jesus had in mind!

Can you imagine if we actually lived out the Golden Godlife as Christians on a daily, moment by moment basis. Instead of getting mad at my wife for running late getting ready, I ask to help her. Instead of ignoring that person on the corner with the sign asking for help, I take them to lunch. Instead of criticizing my boss, I imagine what it must be like to make such tough decisions based on information I'm not aware of. Instead of complaining about trash in the parking lot, I actually help to clean it up. As Americans we are quick to rush to the aid of disasters like Haiti (and we should) but my neighbor or work associate becomes forgotten. Putting ourselves in others' shoes is what the Godlife is all about. Seeing what God sees involves an outer awareness that comes from an inner open window.

These actions must come from an open window of love. As I sit in my window box I am reminded that daily I must open the window of my life to God...to His presence, His love, and His acceptance. In the same fashion when I let that same love flow through the open windows of my life to people, the Golden Godlife becomes a natural practice and not just a mechanical rule. This Godlife is meant to be shared and not just cherished...given away and not held... It's time to open my windows to Golden Godlife opportunities.