The Three Gs

Beyond imperialism (driven by national self-interest) we have the three Rs, respect, restraint and reciprocity. These are pieces of a larger reality which includes three Gs: grace, gratitude and generosity. 

Grace is the state into which we may have been born if we were fortunate, every need met by adoring parents passing along the original gift of life wrapped in love. God or the Queen or commoners like us may be gracious, giving regardless of the worthiness of the recipient and expecting no return. Grace encourages and enables rather than demands, controls, negotiates, judges, rewards or punishes. After mastering lessons of respect, restraint and reciprocity, we may remember Grace as our first mentor and respond to her teaching with Gratitude and Generosity. 

Imagine a global community
where we help each other
to be the best we can be.
Forget us-first-and-nothing-else-matters.
Remember,
us-includes-everyone-and-everything-matters.
Beyond reciprocity there is
Grace, Gratitude, Generosity,
and perhaps Peace. 

P.S.
You know all of this. I haven't said anything new. But we are human, which means there are times we want to scream or punch somebody in the throat or drop bombs. Reciprocity and grace are layered on top of latent selfish aggression. We must find words for our compassion and rehearse it or lose it in the angry noise of the World News. 

This is me practicing peace.