Good is God

Just a thought for this December.  Here is a corny video but cute.

You may also have seen this article about a New York policeman.

This policeman's actions was great but it's inspirational underpinnings is given here by Mychal Judge.

"With all the commotion over this photo of simple, perfect kindness came an affirmation of a theological precept once proposed by the late Father Mychal Judge, himself widely known as the FDNY chaplain who perished at the World Trade Center. Judge was also an unofficial chaplain to Manhattan’s homeless, able to call many of them by name as he strolled the city in sandaled feet and a friar’s brown habit. “Hello, William!… Hello, Ralph! … Hello, Peter!” he would say.

His smile was always joined by a few buoying words and a dollar, folded lengthwise because he thought that made it seem less of a handout. He one day summarized his particular theology by inverting the old Irish mantra that God is good.

“Good is God,” Judge said.

What he meant was that just as the devil is to be found in evil, God is to be found in goodness. He further believed that in recognizing the good in others, you strengthen that good and therefore God. He also felt that embracing your own goodness is the way to grace."

Judge died as a first responder in the World Trade Centre doing good.

Christopher Hitchens in his 2007 book "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything" effectively argued the case against organized religion.

Interestingly you can say the same thing about profit for business too. Good practice leads to profits. Profit by itself is greed. It's similar to the idea of looking at stars being best done indirectly with your peripheral vision.  Whenever you seek something directly it becomes counterproductive. The best things are accomplished it seems by just doing the right things, as this New York policeman demonstrated.