8th Grace: The Grace of Opportunity
The Gift of Right Behavior
Biblical Inspiration: 8th Commandment
Thou Shalt Not Steal
Gratitude Statement
I am grateful for the Grace of Opportunity (Gift of Right Behavior), which allows me to interact with others in a productive, compassionate, and supportive manner, and which encourages me to honor my responsibilities to society in keeping with the Grace of Community.
Inspirational Message
What needs to be said about Right Behavior other than to follow the Golden Rule. Treat others the way you would wish to be treated. How much simpler can it get than that?
Which is why it is so difficult to understand how Mankind has perfected the art and science of Inhumane Behavior. When I was preparing for this talk, I thought to give examples of Unacceptable and Acceptable Behaviors. I was overwhelmed by how quickly I was able to fill a page with the former, and only a paragraph with the latter.
It should not have to be clarified what is Unacceptable Behavior. Indeed, the very idea that Unacceptable Behavior is so prevalent is irrefutable proof of the immense pulling power of the Mind-side Influence. Recall that all counter-productive ideas come from Mind, not Soul.
So, this means that Mind is responsible for encouraging and justifying Unacceptable Behaviors, such as: Stealing. Robbing. Cheating. Tricking. Deceiving. Sabotaging. Misleading. Harming. Hurting. Injuring. Libeling. Abducting. Drugging. Assaulting. Raping. Confining. Enslaving. Exploiting. Denying. Fighting. Physically Abusing. Shall I go on?
By contrast, consider the conduct inspired by the Soul, all of which are Acceptable Behaviors. Charity. Volunteerism. Honoring. Helping. Fairness. Justice. Freedom. Liberty. Respectfulness. Kindness. Consideration. Thoughtfulness. Law-Abiding. Community Service.
Little more needs to be said. Behave in a civil manner in all your dealings with other humans, whether they are individuals or a society of individuals.
Pay your taxes! To do otherwise is to steal from your fellow citizens. And stealing is a no-no.Taxes are not a bad thing. They are no less legitimate and honorable as tickets to a carnival or payment of a hospital bill. Fairness dictates that if you receive value from others, you must reciprocate commensurately. If you benefit from a roof over your family’s head, then the landlord deserves your rent check, so she can make her mortgage payment.
Taxes no different than insurance. It’s a cooperative pool where many pay in a little, so that the insurer can pay out a lot to a few. Not everyone needs a fire truck or a police squad car at their house. But when they do, the city provides. It funds those services with your tax dollars.
When someone cheats on his taxes, or finds loopholes that benefit himself, he is cheating his fellow citizens. Why should some pay more than others in taxes, percentage wise? These are the concerns of someone who practices Right Behavior. Pay your taxes! Don’t be a freeloader.
8th Grace Belief Statements
Good Manners and Decency in Democracy: I believe that Right Conduct requires us to behave with good manners and decency in all our dealings with those we encounter in society. Right Behavior is the cornerstone of any Democracy and must be safeguarded at all costs, all-knowing, all-powerful, eternal and non-corporeal.
Brother’s Keeper: I believe that each of us has a moral, ethical, and spiritual responsibility to be our brother’s keeper. That is, when we see others in need, it is with adherence to the Ten Graces that we treat everyone we meet as if they were your kin – because they are!
Majority Rule in Democracy: I believe that Democracies are underpinned by
the Principle of Majority Rule, Therefore, inherent in Right Behavior is respect for Majority Rule, such as with election results, jury verdicts, party politics, etc.
Tolerance and Compromise in Democracy: I believe that, for any Democratic society to long endure, its citizens must respectfully uphold principles of Tolerance and Compromise. In Representative Democracies, Tolerance and Compromise must not be
treated as dirty words.
Law Obedience: I believe that, as a member of a larger community and in keeping with the Grace of Community, I am obligated to follow properly enacted and enforced laws. In extension, I consent to the government having limited authority to reasonably limit my individual rights, as long as Free Will is not denied.
Volunteerism and Public Service: I believe that I have a responsibility to protect, defend, and maintain governmental order through voluntary and requested service. This reflects the truthful notion that, in any society, ‘we are all in the same boat, and must thus paddle in unison.