A teacher asked a student what he was drawing and he said a picture of God. But, the teacher replied, no one knows what God looks like. They will when I’m done said the student. This expression of overconfidence is amusing, but there is a serious principle behind it. Do you see your own life as drawing a picture of me? Those who observe your actions will consider whether they give an accurate picture of me, or will draw accurate or inaccurate conclusions about me based on them. What kind of picture are you drawing? When you are done, will people know what I look like?

Do you know people that you would describe as sensitive? Are they discerning of the hurts and needs of other people, or does their sensitivity extend only to things that bother them? Empathy, sympathy, and compassion are highly regarded qualities in every faith tradition, including your own. But in them all it is implied that they extend outward to others rather than being consumed internally. If you can apply these qualities toward others more than yourself then the more sensitive you are the better you are able to discern and minister to the needs of others.

Are there issues you feel strongly about? Perhaps spreading my message is one of them, and you may have others. Can you express your passion and your humanity at the same time? For if you have to sacrifice your humanity to express your passion you will end up harming your cause rather than advancing it, and this applies to my cause as much as any other. Have you heard that tone of voice and non-verbal communication have more impact than your actual words? You can make this principle work in your favor rather than against you. Let your words of grace be spoken with grace.

You know that some diseases are contagious, and you take appropriate hygienic precautions. Have you also noticed that some moods and mindsets are also contagious? Angry people tend to make others angry. Have you noticed that calm and peaceful people can impart these traits to others? Do you think that anger is a stronger influence and more easily transferrable than peace? It takes more inner strength to be at peace and impart peace than it does for anger. Yet I have imparted peace to you and told you not to be overcome with evil, but to overcome evil with good.