Doing the right thing

As I sat talking with my friend Allan recently, I asked him how things were going with his farm. His answer revitalized my faith in people.

Due to health concerns, Allan and his wife, Emma, are unable to keep up with the farm they own. They rent it to another couple, an honest man named Gerald and his wife.

"Everything seems to be doing well," Allan said. "In fact, Gerald and his wife came up to see me a while back."

When I asked him if they were still renting the land and if they intended to stay, he said "Oh yes, they even raised their own rent. They realized the cost of living was going up and felt we were not being paid enough for the use of the ground."

Evidently the tenants were prospering, and decided that since Allan and Emma had neglected to raise the rent accordingly, they needed to do the right thing and pay more each year.

How often do you hear, "Do it because it's the right thing to do. Be nice." Although we often feel those virtues are a thing of the past, Allan's experience with his renters proved that people still like to do the right thing, although perhaps not to the extent that Gerald did.

Upon hearing Allan's story, I practically fell off the chair -- my mouth falling open in disbelief. People used to do things like that, but I rarely hear of similar incidents now.

However, knowing of Gerald's generosity markedly reinforced my estimation of the goodness of people. Gerald raised his rent simply because it was the right thing to do. I was struck by the action because people often help others in various ways, but when money is involved many are hesitant to be so charitable.

While I was growing up, my siblings and I were taught to live by the golden rule and treat others as we wanted to be treated. I still like to watch movies of times when people's words were their bond, or when a handshake sealed a deal. They did the right thing!

Wouldn't it be refreshing if those gestures were all it took nowadays to finalize a sale, keep one's word or vouch for a debt? As I evaluate the human landscape today I continue to see more goodness than evil. When you see neighbors searching for someone's kidnapped child, people participating in Meals on Wheels and volunteering at hospitals, how can you fail to see God around you? You notice many being Jesus to others by ministering to them in various ways -- out of love and simply because it's the right thing to do.

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you."

Jesus replied. "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. (Matthew 3)

Jesus said he needed to be baptized because it was "the right thing to do." It is important that we sometimes perform actions for no other reason than it's the right thing to do. There often needs to be no other rationale.

Sometimes the right thing to do is not to act. We sometimes ought to keep quiet when we'd like to comment. For occasionally some things just do not need to be said, or at least aired in public because it's improper. Speaking inappropriately could show a lack of consideration or integrity.

At times we feel obligated to perform a particular action. We visit the sick and feed the hungry because we love them, but also because God tells us to. Most of the time we don't know why people accomplish the things they do, but I wager that, for many, it's still for no other reason than it's simply the right thing to do.

Ellen Shuck is director of religious education at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau.