As an abstract, absolute goodness is beyond us—both as fact, and in
understanding. Indeed, within many contexts we struggle with the concept
of mere decency; for the imagination of our hearts is continually evil,
as it's written. That admonition is less accusatory, however, when it's
understood that the opposite of “good” is not “evil.”
I'll not waste many words in defense of evil: it's nasty business, but
the bottom of bad is wickedness, not evil; for within the
continuum of iniquity that was discovered in the angelic and fell, through
mankind, to the demonic, evil is every single gradient of error that can
be found, or might be judged to belong, anywhere between the polar
extremes we think of as "right" and as "wrong."
With our thumbs constantly on the scale with bias for predispositions,
however innocent our intent might be, we weigh many factors,
ignoring others; and we conclude that a "good" person is one who, when
ensnared in a dispute that might end in quarrelsome violence, first
defines f
and then evaluates w
what is being said—very carefully b!
That he is circumspect signals that he can be trusted
f to
give fair w hearing b
and to resolve f disputes w with
empathy and careful concern b.
We might go so far as to empower such a one to be a civic judge who
would do just
that—resolve disputes, that is—because we've learned that a “good”
individual practices reticence f
in his judgments, deferring to the consensus w
of those in the community
b who
are considered to be reliable f,
honest w,
and scrupulously compassionate b.
The expression "I'm good," must give us
pause, however. Its implication is that some individuals who think of
themselves as “good” people show their "good" sides only because they’re
complete f,
comfortable w,
and satisfied b,
which is to say that they are "good" primarily because their baskets f have
ample w
stores b .
. .
Gematria 17 zy;
Numerology 17 zy >
8 j: . . . whereas a person who's just plain
"good"
(as those not-so-good see
it) is an individual who is respectful y to a fault z, is eager to meet y expectations z, and (importantly) is willing to contribute
y to the causes and goals z to which all "good" people ascribe
j.
Targum: "Good" people keep tight reign f on the secrets w of their souls b; but, scoundrels that they so frequently turn
out to be,
they are quick to form ill-fated alliances with others who may not be
so good as they, and whose unsavory wills have been compromised
f. Such pretenders judiciously feign admirable w attitudes for the
benefit of public consumption
b.
About such hangers-on, the question metastasizes, causing us to wonder whether "good"
friends are actually no more than evil
or masqueraders
r,
cleverly
looking to take advantage
o. That's another story. In any case, it's
"all good"; for to be so alerted
r is to be so advised
o.
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