Back in the days when life was less complicated, relationships had a warmer picture. Not losing faith in humanity, but while technological advancement and progress of the times are supposed to improve the quality of life, they have also taken an undesirable plot twist; causing hearts to grow distant and weary. So what happens when an examination like "Loving Your Neighbor" is being introduced to be the focus the society instead? When an examination like this shifts the focus from pursuing not only the material things in life but towards human connection, it paints the picture of greater life sustainability.
Let me take a simple comparison on the outlook of different communities; one from a more laid back and deemed "less" developed state and a more advanced and progressive state. Ever wonder why whether it is in the interior places or smaller townships, people are generally more smiley and warm, and neighborhoods are more interactive? They tend to be more helpful and involved, even when the ones seeking help are strangers. Whereas in bigger cities, the hustle and bustle of life causes many to tend to only focus on themselves and put themselves first as priority. It is not that they do not have heart, but that their hearts are on something else. Perhaps this is deemed as a biased observation, but from many instances and personal experience this has proven more often to be true.
The "Loving Your Neighbor" exam's first requirement would be to get people to start connecting. Instead of focusing on one's self, start being attentive to our surroundings. I'm not saying we should intentionally go and find the needy, but when the occasion arises, it pays to offer help. It could be as simple as offering to carry somebody's groceries or holding the door.
And like any exam questions, you will not only be tested in one area. The purpose of exams is to show how much we have come to learn in its application with hopes we'll be well rounded in that particular subject matter. Unlike normal school exams, the "Loving Your Neighbor" exam is an ongoing lifetime exam that serves to test participants and enables them to practise and incorporate what's been learned while being tested.
Under each topic, there will be sub questions on various subject matter depicting different situations, all in which are open ended. When we are loving our neighbors, often times we'll be tested in areas such as kindness, patience, thoughtfulness and understanding, going the extra mile, thankfulness, forgiveness, honor and many more. How will the exams be judged? By its fruit, which means every deed will have its natural course of results. Unless, of course, should one intentionally causes harm, then it will be left to the governing body of the nation to take charge on ensuring the safety of its people. Like the Good Book says, the good tree will bear good fruit. How about a bad tree then? Can it turn a new leaf and still be saved? Of course it can, with lots of tender loving care.
This exam has no fixed answers, and its complexity varies from one situation to another. No one exam is the same for any participant, which makes it interesting. And the only way to excel in it is to actively participate.
May we as a society be inspired to come to the point and ask ourselves, "what is our core?" I believe when we are able to answer that not only as a community but individually as a person, we will see ourselves progress and be fruitful as human beings.
@liewsc, an interesting challenge that serves to cultivate our wildest imagination to anything in life, be it current affairs, fairy tales, and etc. This is not meant to be an exhaustive post, but one that hopefully stirs some thoughts and action within us. God created us as co-heirs to this world, and we do have a say on what kind of life we would like to build and the kind of legacy we would like to leave to this world. I have faith in humanity, because I believe in love.
