Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Shaking the World Through Gentleness


October 2, 2019, is the 150th birthday of Mohandas Gandhi, one of humanity’s great spiritual warriors, who showed us through his choices and actions how to live out Jesus’ teachings on non-violence and love. Gandhi said, “My life is my message,” a breathtaking statement that calls for our contemplation.

In reality, we all could say “My life is my message,” for what we believe is illustrated in the way we live our life. The question is, what message are we sending to others? People who believe in a merciful God forgive others. People who believe in God’s providence share their blessings with others. People who believe Christ is incarnate in the world treat everything in creation—water, earth, plants, animals, and people—with reverence.

One reason Gandhi is a great role model for us is his integrity. He believed in living simply, and at the end of his life, his only possessions were his spectacles, a bowl and plate, a spinning wheel, a few articles of clothing, leather sandals, a pocket watch, and a few scripture books. He believed in nonviolence and helped his people gain freedom through fasts, imprisonment, and peaceful marches and protests. His life truly was his message. May he inspire us to be true to our own call to simplicity, nonviolence, love, and service as followers of Jesus.


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