Newport Navalog

CHAPLAIN

"Consideration"

By Chaplain Robert F. Lang

Consideration is a timeworn word; regarding an idea which also seems out of date. For many reasons modern life proceeds at so rapid a pace that little time is permitted for us to be considerate in daily living. Consideration requires time, effort and understanding.

Daily living is such an important act, and should bring us much satisfaction and joy. Daily living involves, other than ourselves, a number of other persons: those dear to us, those we like, those with whom we work, those we happen to meet along the way. It is hardly possible for us as individuals to dictate how all the people we meet in a given day should get along with us, but we can determine how we will get along with them. Consideration can prove to be a key word in this matter of daily living.

Needs that command so much of our attention often blind us to the needs of others. We cannot always alleviate the needs of others, but we can show consideration and be kinder in our attitude toward them.

Consideration means recognizing people as neighbors and accepting them as persons, more especially as children of God.

People are not to be used for personal aggrandizement, as stepping stones in life. People have identities of their own, which we ought to know. We would have many friends if we just took the time to know the people in the area of our daily living.

Daily business often does not permit us the time for more than casual meetings. We know this and yet we evaluate a person and his worth on such a casual meeting.

Actually we evaluate what the individual means to us and our particular needs. This casual acquaintance has a job, a pretty good concept of the value of the task, he possesses important ideas and goals, and he has problems and concerns akin to our own.

In the sea of faces we see every day which is humanity, we want identity for ourselves. We expect people to know us and accept us as persons, as children of God. Our task is important to us, as are our goals. When we have concerns we want others to share them with us. In other words we yearn for and expect the consideration of others. Only as we show consideration to persons we meet day by day, can we expect consideration. It is an art, something everyone can do.