Dec. 12: Righteousness by Mary Beth Schell
As I reflected on righteousness, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “There was a little girl,” came to mind. It's interesting how a childhood poem can spark profound reflection. This poem paints a picture of childhood innocence and extremes – very good indeed or simply horrid. This simple, playful rhyme, actually touches on a deeper struggle we all face: the pursuit of righteousness. What does it mean to be "good?" Is it about faultless behavior or something more nuanced? As I unpack my memories of this poem, I'm going to move beyond a simplistic "good versus bad" dichotomy and delve into the heart of what it means to be in right relationship with God and with others.
Here goes!
There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very good indeed,
But when she was bad she was horrid.
(https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44650/there-was-a-little-girl)
When I was a little girl, my mother often referred to me as the girl with the curl because she said I reminded her of that little girl - capable of both goodness and horrid behavior. This duality is how we often think of righteousness: as a binary where we are either good or bad. We are either engaging in right or wrong behaviors. Human behavior is complicated, and no human is capable of being virtuous all the time. My mom's assessment of my behavior might have sounded harsh, but it was honest, and it was based on behaviors not my character. I never doubted her unconditional love.
When I ponder my lifelong struggles to color within the lines, what I remember is not the negative evaluation of my behavior but my mom's abiding love and patience. God is not an exasperated parent, and God's expectations are far more nuanced than a binary evaluation of good vs. bad. When we explore righteousness, we should step back from legalistic expectations of human behavior, and explore another meaning of righteousness which is right relationships.
Ultimately, righteousness means having a right relationship with God. This relationship is built on a foundation of love, not a rigid adherence to rules. A right relationship with God extends love to our neighbors as well. In Matthew 22:37-40 when Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, “ Jesus replied. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (NIV) Therefore, true righteousness is not the rigid observance of rules and regulations but the cultivation of love—a love that binds us to God and each other.
By prioritizing love over legalism, righteousness is not measured by adherence to a checklist but by the depth of our connection to God and the kindness we extend to others. Let us work to cultivate this love in our lives, seeking to deepen our relationship with God and allowing that love to radiate outwards into the world around us.
--Mary Beth Schell