Article July 16, 1984 Issue

The precious privilege of minding our own business

BETTY L. BOUTILIER

Gossip! Why do people listen to it, read it, spread it? Why do otherwise fair and gentle people with no hint of malicious intent get caught up in the treacherous business of criticizing and meddling—often without even knowing they are doing so? Isn't it sometimes because mortal mind would adulterate people's purest impulses, those derived from God?

We are all endowed with an innate capacity to love, help, and support our fellowman. And the good Samaritan in every one of us must be nurtured and protected. But there is much about friends, neighbors, celebrities, and even close family members that is not our legitimate concern—that is just none of our business. We need to honor each one's inalienable right to work out his own salvation.

We need never be duped by mortal mind into imagining that we are expressing brotherly love when we are merely meddling, simply trafficking in the affairs of others. We are Christ-empowered to forbid such mockery of our natural magnanimity and lovingkindness. There is profound need for genuine love, for deep charity. There is need for healing. Any debasing tendency in us to criticize or meddle we can pray to see exposed and destroyed.

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