In our previous article, we tackled human benevolence, stemming from God’s absolute benevolence, and from the call of religions to perform good deeds. A benevolent human must be meek, presenting good deeds for the benefit of others in their future lives, even if this calls for extra effort, helping them unearth and advance their hidden capabilities.
This brings to mind US President Abraham Lincoln, of whom it is mentioned that his mother died when he was nine. Following his family’s return to Kentucky, his father met and married Sarah Bush Johnson, who became Abraham Lincoln’s stepmother, a wonderful, benevolent woman, though; so much so that she became both a friend to him and a sister. Sarah at all times encouraged Abraham to educate himself. It’s been told that Abraham Lincoln didn’t have a close relationship with his father, but had a very tight-knit relationship with his stepmother, whom he always addressed “Mother”! Thus he spoke of her: “I owe all that I’ve attained, and all the heights I aspire to reach, to my tender mother.” The seeds sown by this most virtuous mother, were not reaped by herself and Lincoln alone, but by the entire nation, which he managed to steer towards growth and progress, earning a name as one of its most prominent presidents.
Add to that, a person who cherishes and performs benevolent deeds can never be overcome by the evil that others might direct at him/her, instead offering plenty of goodness for all the evil to which s/he is exposed. Or if this becomes impossible, s/he offers prayers for those who did him/her this evil, trusting that the Lord will turn the evil to good, thus within any benevolent person is formed greater capability and energy to do good, both resisting and overcoming evil. Gandhi says, “If we meet wrongdoing with wrongdoing, when will the wrongdoing end?” Entering a circle of evil, loathing and hatred can only be broken by the radiant glimmer of goodness and love, then alone can the earth be transformed into a heaven.
Just as evil cannot hinder humans from doing good, likewise those who seek benevolence never hunt for causes or excuses for what they do in terms of giving, service and all the good of which they’re capable, never setting conditions for such deeds, offering them instead to all when they have a chance to do so. Perhaps the deed is simple, but the good it bears is profound and influential in the lives of others.
This reminds me of a king who decided one day to place a large rock in the middle of one of the most pivotal roads of the kingdom, then taking up a hiding place to observe people’s reactions as they passed by this rock. The first passer-by was a wealthy merchant. When he saw the rock, he was surprised by its appearance, then he circled it and went on his way. Next came some citizens of the kingdom, and no sooner did they catch sight of the rock in the middle of the path, than they started complaining and groaning about the negligence rampant in their kingdom, then going along their way. Thus continued the stream of pedestrians, until along came a poor peasant returning from the field heading home, carrying a basket of fruit. As soon as he eyed the rock, he brought down the basket from his shoulder and started pushing the rock out of the way. Having successfully completed his mission, he stooped to pick up his basket, when he spotted a bag in the place of the rock. Upon opening it, he found a treasure of gold! Together with a brief note from the king stating: “This gold becomes the personal possession of whomever lifts the rock from the middle of the road!”
Fill your life with love and benevolence towards others, so God might fill it with blessings. Renowned author and novelist Tawfiq Al-Hakim says: “Blessed are they who fill their lives with good deeds, for they have come to the realization that it’s far too short to be wasted on evil acts.”
To be continued…
