Yep, I know... I am a True Procrastinator!

I'm so sorry!  But here I am, with a few words of wisdom for myself.  I hope they will help you as well, reader(s).

I have been pondering an idea introduced to me in an aforementioned book, A Heart Like His. Author Pearce talks about the idea of assuming nobility first in others as we go about our daily tasks and duties.  Sometimes, it seems, we can really read a lot into something that was very innocently put out by another fellow human being - a comment, a post on Facebook, an email... Many things are thrust upon us each day without complete context or even understanding by the perpetrator.

Pearce talks about how if we, the recipient, assume that their intent in whatever has our attention for the moment was nobly presented, that we are much more likely to be accepting - not necessarily of the "crime" committed, but of the person, a fragile human soul.  Above all, we refrain from judging because we are more concerned about the good the person might be creating or presenting rather than trying to find poor motive or even backstabbing.

Recently some big decisions have been made in my family about how we will proceed through this life from here.  Rather than bore you with the details, let's just say that these are life-changing decisions for all of us.  There will be good and bad that come from them, and we just hope that the good outweighs the bad. But the process of making these decisions has sorely taxed my ability to look for nobility, and has been good for me.

Nobility is defined as nobleness of mind, character, or spirit; exalted moral excellence.  Also the state or quality of being noble.  Exalted moral excellence.  WOW!  This would truly be something to strive for.  And difficult to achieve.  So my point is that in assuming nobility, perhaps we elevate others even more than we elevate ourselves in our quest to do good and assume good. 

I think that what I do for others, directly or indirectly, on a daily basis, is probably much more important than what I do for myself.  It makes sense that if I try hard to serve, I will gain from it.  But what if serving is my focus and I'm not worried about what I will gain?  What if, in assuming nobility in another human, I have served them more than I could by taking cupcakes, taking out their garbage, washing their car...

In making these tough decisions, I have had to rely on the fact that everyone who has weighed in, had my back (so to speak), given advice, helped me plan, etc. etc. etc. must first be perceived nobly.  I truly believe that the very most of them have my best interest at heart, even though their actions may contradict their intentions.  In assuming that their intentions are noble, I have sifted the wheat and exorcised the chaff, ending up with the golden nuggets that will benefit me.

Just something to think on.  I believe that in assuming nobility, even in those in whom nobility may seem unthinkable at any given time, that we will go about serving in a way that we forgot was possible: by building another's soul.