Am I Too Nice?

My name is Colin and apparently I have a problem. I am 'too nice'. Or so I was told last week.

Sure, I do things differently.

I try and be polite, when others that I know seem to strive to be downright rude and obnoxious...

I try and be helpful, when others clearly don't care a fig and genuinely prefer to knock people - and even kick them while they're down ...

I try and be punctual, when others seem to consider appointment times as merely a suggestion...

I try and be respectful of other's views, unlike others who are absurdly judgemental and outrageously close-minded...

So, is that wrong? Have I got it that wrong?

I read something online this week that said the key point here was having self-respect. It was having a clear sense of who you are and what you want out of life...

And, as a Christian, I am challenged to follow Jesus - to try and be like more and more like Jesus...

OK, then. Perhaps I need to take as my role model the person who made a whip, driving out the money-changers from the temple, turning over their sales tables.

The person who threw insults at the religious leaders of the time: “white-washed tombs”; “hypocrites”; “snakes.”

The person who frequently challenged conventional ways of thinking...

The person who went out of his way to befriend the friendless; to love the unloved. Revolutionary love!

The person who wasn't scared of showing his emotions, openly weeping at times.

The person who boldly proclaimed the truth, even if it offended those who heard it.

The person who taught with so much controversy that some threatened to stone him. They eventually found a way to have him crucified.

And even death itself could not contain Him.

What if I followed this right to the letter... I doubt if they would be calling me 'nice' for much longer... more for me to think about!!

Note: I am also reminded that the 'others' that I mentioned in the first part of this blog post are perhaps the very people Jesus is calling me to help... (sigh)

Let Me Help

As a Christian, I am encouraged to put out an hand of friendship to others, to try and help them whenever and wherever I can. Why is it, then, that when you try to help some people, the offer of assistance is often rejected or dismissed? When does a genuine willingness to help someone become interference in somebody else's life? Comments are directed back to you saying 'it's not your concern, leave me alone.' I suspect that the answer lies in the area of Respect, that is acknowledging other people's opinions or views may be different from your own.

Here's some quotes about Helping Others, as I ponder this further.

"Never underestimate what a simple gesture can do. It is the little things that you do that make a big difference in other people's lives." - Catherine Pulsifer

“Do something for somebody every day for which you do not get paid.” - Albert Schweitzer

"Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible." - Charles Dickens

"The more I help others to succeed, the more I succeed." - Ray Kroc

"Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (New International Version)
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Acts 20:35 (New International Version)
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "