We can’t push and force what we believe on another person. I can tie a man’s hands and shackle his feet and dangle him over a fire and force him to accept my way of thinking, but really did I change his heart or did he just say it to stop me from destroying him? So, really what did I accomplish? Why not allow people to make up their own minds and then accept their decision without exacting any form of revenge. If you want someone to convert or come to your way of thinking – why not do it like the sun did in the following story.
The wind and the sun were arguing one day over who could get a man’s coat off. The wind blew and blew, but the man just wrapped the coat tighter. That’s exactly how being pushy works. After the wind failed to blow the coat off, the sun simply shone and the man took it off by himself.
Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV)
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This puts the responsibility on me to live honestly and place importance on exerting my beliefs into action. I do not convert by force but by compelling others through my quality of living.
Even Mahatma Gandhi understood this principle when he said "To believe in something and not to live it is dishonest."
Influence requires integrity to provide force for change. Integrity is the unity of thought, speech, and deed. In other words it is the complete opposite of hypocrisy. Live your life in such a way that when a person lies on you that no one believes it.
Be like the sun – SHINE!
- Dr. Reuben Egolf
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