The good seed

In one of the meetings at the office, we were talking about how some of the employees had diverted tactical funds and cash advances for personal use.

Some were using it to finance personal needs, while others were using the company's money for gambling. When push came to shove, the persons involved could only say - mea culpa. Which led us to the discussion of how some people whom my boss described as "good" were led astray because of "temptation" and eventually became "bad".

I had a different take on this. I told the management members (of which I am a member of) that there was no such thing as good people turning bad. Good people will remain good, in whatever circumstance you place them. I believe in the inherent goodness of the human being. Good people do not take advantage of circumstances. Good people will always think and care about his fellow man. Good people will always be there for you even in your worst days. Good people do not take advantage of what is not rightfully theirs. Those whom we caught malversing funds were "bad" people from the get-go. Their evil desires served as fertile ground for finding the perfect storm to resort to actions with malicious intent. Whatever caught up with them was simply "karma".

I have always been a firm believer that there is something inherently good in every human being. Probably in even the worse kind of people. It's like a relationship. Even if you're married into one or simply in a partnership with a significant other, you get to discover both the good and the bad aspects in your lives. It's actually up to us to find and nurture what is inherently the good seed and hope that the good seeds bear fruit.

There's a biblical passage that talks about good seeds being sown on fertile grounds. And then those that grow along the side of the road. Whatever grows out of the good seeds get entangled at times by thorns and bad plants. It takes a lot of love and caring in order to nurture a beautiful plant.

I've had several relationships and while the majority were bad, there were some good ones that came along the way. Circumstances, however, did not permit some of them to blossom into long lasting ones. No matter how much kindness or goodness you share, some of them apparently just don't fit one another. Either one or both become engulfed in materialism, envy, jealousy, greed, infidelity, mistrust, and temptation - and eventually drift apart.

And there's the rub. At times, it becomes frustrating and tiring to see the good in people. Some may influence us in the right way - like good friends or lovers who will always steer us in the right path, while there are others who simply enjoy seeing misery loving company.

In the journey of our lives, it is important to remember that there is something inherently good in every person. And that our lives are intertwined with other human beings. In helping others and ourselves find the right path to making this a better world can we find true happiness, joy and peace of mind.

"Life is good when you're happy. But the better fact is...life is at its best when other people are happy because of you. Never get tired of doing little things for others...because sometimes, those little things occupy the best part of their hearts."