Assume Good Will
It's Simple...Yet very hard to do...
Just for todayAssume Good Will
It means that you choosefor just one dayto assume that good will is the intention of each one with whom you interact
The person who cut in front of you...(was headed for an emergency,not attempting to raise your insurance premium)
The dishes that were left in the sink(were left, but with the intention of returning not presuming to take your generosity for granted)
The unanswered email(was because the response needed more thought,not because your need to know was unimportant to the receiver)
The harsh words(were not intended to ruin your daybut a reflection of the inner turmoil of the other)
The credit taken by another for your idea(was not an attempt to misrepresentbut an oversight in judgment)
It sounds easy, but it's very hard to doAnd the closer it comes to what matters to meThe harder it is to do
The more important the person is to methe harder it is to assume good will....instead of judging the personand adding to the volcano of resentmentthat gets ignited by something unrelated....to accept the challengefar greater than cold water over myhead...to keep my heart availableand my mind openand change my starting place
Assume Good Will The Lenten practice (which generally I can only do in moments, not in hours or days)Requires that I am fully present in the moment at hand...without reference to the pastor projection into the future.
It is to let this moment stand on its own.It is to stop believing that "it's no use""it will never change""everyone/thing has a price"And to believethat good will is the motive.
Assume Good WillJust for today
And, maybe theother person isdoing the sameand looks at you...assuminggood will.
~ Bridget Bearss, RSCJ
