We live in a world where the common perception of life is often upside down and needs to be challenged. Many people think that goodness is dull and boring, whereas evil is fun, lively and entertaining. The reality is that there is nothing more repetitive and destructive than evil and nothing more creative, winsome and attractive than true goodness. Malcolm Muggeridge called this “Reverse symmetry.”
It is hardly surprising that genuine goodness leaves a lasting impression because goodness is part of the character of God. We often underplay how attractive real goodness is. One of the reasons I found myself searching for faith was through being attracted by the person of Jesus as presented in the gospels, someone who went about “doing good”. Moreover, in my experience, one of the attractions for me, of some Christian folk, is their sheer goodness. Of course they no doubt have a shadow side, and no doubt attendant struggles. However, as they follow Christ on the adventure of faith, then, often unknown to them, gradually, quietly, imperceptibly, they are being changed from the inside out, and the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit begins to emerge, amongst which is goodness.
As a minister I was often moved by some of the older people in my congregation, for whom life had not been easy, who instead of being disillusioned and cynical, shone with a beauty that came from within. I was always humbled in their presence, and the memory of their lives has stayed with me down through the decades.
Can we believe in goodness in a world where evil is so rampant, strutting around convinced it is in charge? Yes, we can, because in the midst of much evil, I can picture a woman kneeling on the ground washing her Master’s feet with her hair and using expensive perfume. Her encounter with him had transformed her life – goodness shines out. I see a man risking his life and health to travel to Rome to share in Paul’s sufferings because he did not want him to feel alone and abandoned. In my lifetime, I have journeyed with people who have given their lives to young people, helping them to reach their full potential, or given up their own agenda to provide daily voluntary care for a family member or friend. That is goodness… and it is impressive.
By Rev Colin A M Sinclair
