The Right means
January 31, 2010
Most people have heard the saying, “The end justifies the means.” A good portion of humanity, both today and throughout history, have even made it the guiding principle of their lives. Hitler, “in order to preserve the purity of his race,” exterminated millions of people: Or the leadership of some States or some prominent Religions decide, for the purpose of strengthening their own control, that some other religions have no right to exist because they are simply different. Closer to us, we may have seen or personally experienced how some contractors, not quite honest but desiring to make fast money, have tried to cut corners in using materials of inferior quality to do their work. Similarly, we have seen, in our days, many public individuals to whom large sums of money were entrusted for investment, but instead, such moneys have served to support lavish lifestyles those trusted individuals desired to enjoy.
Soon, we get to understand that someone accepted the thought that certain ways of doing things would lead to a desired outcome. Dwelling on such thought and entering into the feeling of satisfaction generated by such imagined outcome, the person developed the belief that whatever s-he was pondering “however damaging” was the right thing. And then the belief grew strong enough to compel the mind of the person to decide on actions to fulfill such belief. And the rest becomes sad history.
Today, would we choose to make that kind of history? After deep reflection, our answer is most likely a resounding “NO”. And that gives us an opportunity to take a new look at what has happened in our thinking regarding any outcome we have brought about in our life. We can realize that the steps we took toward obtaining the outcome began with an idea. The idea became our motivating thought and belief, when we dwelt on it long enough. Such idea was the root and origin of the outcome. Therefore we can always use properly the tool that is our mind to achieve an end that is a blessing rather than a curse.
Let us consider what James Allen says about the mind: “Mind is the Master-Power that moulds and makes, and Man is Mind, and evermore he takes the tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills, brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills: he thinks in secret, and it comes to pass. Environment is but his looking-glass.”
To follow-up on that, we may consider the Four-Way Test of the Rotarians: “Of the things we think, say or do: 1.- Is it the Truth? 2.- Is it fair to all concerned? 3.- Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4.- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Embracing these helpful thoughts, we may create new blueprints for our actions and our desired achievements. We will thus insure that the ends desired are right and we will use right, tested thinking to achieve them. So, we will be using the all-around right means.
“I seek to adopt ever new thinking,
followed by new actions
that reflect
the love, wisdom and power
of my indwelling God Presence, my true and perfect Guide.
With thanksgiving,
I delight in my results,
which are right for all concerned.
Amen”
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