Through the Gates of Good, or Christ and Conduct

Spring - 2012 - A silver white dawn washes toward me, as I rub yesterdays dust from my eyes. No work today. Good. I can relax by reading the short book by James Allen that I found at the bookstore last week. The title sparked my interest right away. As I weaved my way through the handful of short chapters, I was happy with my good fortune to have found this treasure. "Nowhere in the Universe is there a substitute for goodness." ... James Allen Jesus was a good man. His conduct is an example for everyone. His life inspired the writing of this book. This is not a religious book in the sense that you must adopt its message as your own. To the contrary it advocates ardent individualism, healthy discourse, and humble respect for others. The commonality it pursues is goodness. Everyone can be good. It is our true nature, if we allow it to be. If we ask ourselves in every moment, "Should I like others to do this to me?," then surely goodness will emerge as it does from the words of Mr. Allen. I would have liked to have met him. Perhaps after reading his book someone may say they are glad to have met me. People still aspire to live the life of Jesus, and people still read the thought-provoking words of James Allen. What's to stop any of us from inspiring the minds of those that will come after, by walking through the gates of goodness today? In a word, Nothing.