"Be ye sincerely kind, not in appearance only..."
Almost everyone can perceive sincerity in a behavior and action, inhale it from said and written words, sense it through a swiftly passing movement, a silent glance, a quiet smile, and from the loud or the silence itself. Somehow, our hearts recognize and know, our minds detect and register—that genuine substance which flows gently like a sweet stream or as a fragrant breeze does, wafting over our soul and delightfully refreshing its being. Such a gift then will naturally, and ought to certainly, be welcomed with genuinely spotless and matching appreciation, embraced and taken to a heart sincerely grateful.
Granted that we may have been gifted by a bright perception and vision, and that our judgments are not clouded and impaired by unfortunate bias, failures of the kind, and complexities of pre-meditated and pre-deducted conclusions at every given time—conditions which are evidently impossible to be possessed all and perfectly too by anyone and all the time—we daily meet actions and reactions, observing and interacting mutually with people in countless ways, placed willingly or otherwise to receive the spoken and written, that we may believe some are partially or all together not sincere and genuine. What do we do? What should we do? If it be clear to the best of our faculties and senses that someone is selling us, so to speak, something that is not genuine, is not real, has mixed ingredients than those which are presented and proclaimed, claiming a partial end and an ulterior objective—do we buy it? Do we accept and take it to heart? If we do, what kind of statement we would be revealing about our own state, our moral taste and its quality? Of course, these questions are not aimed to create, and should not encourage, doubtfulness, scrutiny and suspicion in our thoughts and behaviors towards others, nor to draw our attention and focus off the positive and upbeat path; on the contrary, it is hoped to inspire a meaningful pause to ponder by example on our own motives and attitudes, our own givings and dealings with others. When we take time and pause to contemplate and establish a fair conversation in the silence of our own conscience, our powers and capacities with which we are all invested so bountifully will join hands in keeping us vigilantly sensitive and interested in correcting our own, setting by turn an unassuming and silent example—without a least thought of self-praise or a subtlest sense of superiority.
When we adapt such disciplined style and tread such a path of conduct ourselves, we then, as exhorted by noble principles and high moral standards, acquire the strength to overlook others’ unfamiliar tastes and habits, and instead endeavor to find only positive traits of their characters and doings to focus upon and appreciate. A life pattern like this, in our individual and collective times alike, shall keep us learning ever-better, reminding ourselves to cultivate sincerity and purity of motive in our own dealings with others, whatever the relationship and however close or distant, in every way which we act and interact with them. Sincerity is a matchless virtue—indeed, it is that very essence, that “key to the doors of the Lord’s bounty and loving-kindness”, that divine brilliance, true intelligence, and matchless jewel in one’s character; that magical moral power which draws God’s choicest blessings and attracts His bestowals and favors.
"... to be the Lord's mercy to man; to be the Lord's grace. Let him do some good to every person whose path he crosseth, and be of some benefit to him. Let him improve the character of each and all, and reorient the minds of men..."
("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Baha", p. 3)
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