This blog is taken from a story out of Stephen Covey’s “Living the Seven Habits”.

South Bend, IN – where some of our congregation have connections – is a Principle-Centered Community. This is a grassroots coalition of organizations committed to teach and apply Dr. Covey’s “7 Habits”. One of the trainees is a middle school volunteer. She sees so many children suffering from low self-esteem and becoming very susceptible to bad influences. We know where that road leads: gangs, and a generation unprepared to become good, productive citizens. South Bend, like any community, also has elderly who are isolated and feel diminished self-esteem. This woman had a vision for bringing the two groups of people together. She got a grant for an “inter-generational enrichment initiative”, named B.E.S.T. (Business Encouraging Students and Teachers). 7^th and 8^th-graders are taught how to deal more effectively with relationships and personal development. This also got assimilated into the teaching curriculum. When these young teens became engaged with the elderly, they began to consider deeply how they envisioned their own lives playing out. Imagine these kids planting flowers at these assisted living facilities with the guidance of the residents. Imagine them teaching each other dance moves! Imagine these kids hearing about history from those who lived it.

You get the idea. This is one example, one story that can uplift us and sustain us. Two groups of people that society often seems to cast aside – young teens and the elderly – brought together to love, listen to, learn from, and lead. Dr. Covey reminds us of principles of interaction that tap into our souls; our God-given, innate beings that are better when we reach out to others. Call it the common good. We need good laws, yes. We need free choice, yes. But there is a third way, a perhaps better way. That is to live a life that is well-mannered, civil and seeks to unify the community. It is “inside-out”, choosing (not enforced) to live with principle-centered values.

Oh, how we need this now! We may not be called to be the ones to spearhead such lofty endeavors, but we may consider offering ourselves to be that mentor, to touch that young life, to perpetuate the values and principles which, like good manners, never go out of style. Trust in the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you in your interpersonal relationships. May they be cultivating, fertile ground for giving glory to the God who embeds in us His love and compassion. It is a love that will never force conditions or prerequisites on us. His is a love that can and will overcome our isolation and loneliness.

Pastor Art