Being Nice … It’s Kinda Fun
Posted on July 4th, 2010 | by Rohan |
An active body is achievable by most, whether by a long and leisurely, if brisk, walk, or for some by more energetic pursuit. I attain exercise of the mind on a daily basis, both in my professional life within recruitment and my media endeavours. Employment of the soul is much more complex and very subjective to each of us as individuals.
It is difficult to pinpoint a description of the word ‘soul’, Motown aficionados apart. The dictionary definition actually takes up the best part of a column, but I was drawn to one particular meaning:
in distinction from the mind, the moral and emotional part of man’s nature
I am more intrigued by the dictionary definition of ‘soulless’, which depicts a mind:
without a soul; without greatness or nobleness of mind; mean; spiritless
I make no claim to be Aristotle, or any of the other philosophers or theologists who have attempted and thus far failed to provide a universal definition. My element is simplicity, and one of the most uncomplicated, yet invaluable, lessons that I have learnt in life comes from a quote attributed to the prophet Muhammad:
“A person’s true wealth is the good he or she does in the world.”
Translating this into every day life and back to my mantra, I simply make certain that every day, I find a brief moment of isolation to nurture my relationship with God, and I also ensure that I grasp every opportunity to have a positive and kind impact on the lives of those around me.
In this respect, it is so much easier than we would imagine to attain a full and nourished life, even in the shadow of the challenges that life incessantly throws at us all.
Even this morning, I have achieved everything for which I would wish in a day. A long stroll in the sunshine, half an hour helping a friend put together a speech for his charity event, and attendance at St Martin’s Church, a place that has been an oasis for me during a time of change and recovery.
It will be with much sadness that St Martin’s loses it’s Director of Music, Josh Jones, on the 18th July, after 10 years service. Everyone will wish him and his lovely family every success in their new calling in New Zealand.
Josh spoke personally this morning of the joy that he finds in combining prayer and song, both of which are very intense and heightened emotions.
Whilst many might argue that the Church is staid, almost stoic, in its attitude and traditions, St Martin’s is nothing of the sort, and I would hope that this is not a totally isolated case.
Upon my first visit, I described Birmingham’s most iconic place of worship as “the celebration of God in the 21st Century, combining traditional worship with the same verve that popular culture might imagine Whoopi Goldberg in the Sister Act movies”. Nothing has happened to change my views on this.
Had anyone with clichéd views of the church entered today, they would have probably walked out in confusion at the sight of a bright congregation, diverse in age, race and culture, singing a former Pop Music Chart number one from the 1970s. However, were I to quote you Psalm 137, it might become clearer:
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land? (Psalm 137: 1-4)
The simple truth is that your life and soul do not need to revolve around religion. But simply by treating your friends with love, and all around you with respect, you are already a success.
Just as I am not Aristotle, I am no Robert Runcie – besides, preaching and enforcing your views upon others is the quickest way to turn them from whatever you might be saying.
So whilst my faith and religion may be paramount to my exercise of the soul, they are not as important as demonstrating to those around me how important and special they really are.
All of the above encapsulate why, even on this most difficult of weekends, I sit here in hope and wonder, the former of which should always be ubiquitous to us all, and the latter generated by the most special group of people around me. And if I’m totally honest, being nice to people is actually quite fun!
