Already it’s 2025! Sometimes a new year will cause us to reflect on the year just gone and consider whether we made the most of the opportunities it presented; whether we learned from the challenges; whether we progressed in some way. More likely we will be thinking ahead. Will this be the year I lose weight, exercise more, find a better job? We may even set goals for ourselves.
If we are honest, we must admit that most of our goals are personal ones aren’t they? There is nothing wrong with wanting to be a better version of ourselves in some way, but what if our goals were larger? What would the world be like if we all decided to contribute to making the world a better, more peaceful place? Traditional Christmas carols express hope for ‘peace on earth, good will toward men’. What if this desire was not just a line in a song but our personal goal?
You might ask: How can I make a difference? The world is in such a difficult state – there is poverty, and there are wars, and terrible injustices. How can I help with that, you ask? Every thought and every action contribute to the mental atmosphere of our environment. Are we contributing to a more peaceful environment in our daily interactions? Are we patient and supportive when the person behind the counter is new at their job? Are we gracious in traffic when someone inadvertently cuts us off? Are we forgiving when a waiter makes an error in our order? Are we generous to those less fortunate than ourselves? Every one of these actions contributes to your own and others’ feeling of being loved and valued. Isn’t that what we all need? Isn’t this what really makes life work right?
The Golden Rule: ‘ Treat others as you would want to be treated’, isn’t just a Christian saying. A quick Google search reveals that it is a core demand of every major religion and school of thought. The world knows that it is love that makes things work right. This time next year when we look back on 2025, let’s hope we can all say that we contributed to the peace of the world. Starting right here with our everyday actions we can do our part in building peace.
This article was contributed by Deborah Packer, a member of the Canberra Christian Science community.
Christian Science Canberra 
Wonderful ideas and thoughts thank you Deb. No response to the ema
Unfortunately the notion that the Golden Rule is a core demand of every religion is a popular old wives’ tale but entirely wrong.
For example, there is no Golden Rule in Islam. There is one set of rules for Muslim males, another for Muslim females (who have less rights than male Muslims), and yet another for relationships with non-Muslims (who have less rights again under Sharia law).
There is no Golden Rule in Hinduism – e.g. the caste system, the practice (now forbidden) of suttee.
This is a better site for finding the Golden Rule in other faiths: https://www.zazzle.com.au/the_golden_rule_poster_square_sticker-217205331424009080?rf=238052750288607827&tc=Cj0KCQjwkN–BhDkARIsAD_mnIp0NwZM0HYVp11SPvs4xa0n83Kv2HxtKr6Wp_qr-kKlo4SL_ZGALzEaAtNaEALw_wcB|22143048681&z_ca=22143048681&z_ag=174338794792&z_adid=729965570314&z_devm=&z_dev=c&z_nw=g&z_mt=&z_lp=9071973&z_li=&z_tid=pla-307375741665&z_plt=&z_fid=&z_kwt=&z_pl=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkN–BhDkARIsAD_mnIp0NwZM0HYVp11SPvs4xa0n83Kv2HxtKr6Wp_qr-kKlo4SL_ZGALzEaAtNaEALw_wcB
It is a wonderful thought to engender a thought for global peace and harmony. A thought that goes beyond and foregoes the notion of ideology and national and political borders; it is also brilliant to point out that it begins with oneself. Thoughts are not controlled by others and if one does take a more direct, daily approach to overcoming the undoubted ‘frustrations’ of daily interactions through effective, conscious control of one’s thoughts then it follows a more harmonious and peaceful existence will be encountered.