Practice of ethics seriously diminished

Cloyce Thornton, senior pastor, Lawrence Evangelical Friends Church, 1601 N.H.:

Wow! Look at all of the power words of that important question: “God,” “how,” “us,” “care” and “elders.” Each word, reaching out for our time, each wanting to make a statement.

Another powerful word I beg to add to this already full list is the word “ethics.” It is a word I see practiced less and less. Show me your ethics, that is if you have any, and you will have shown me your real agenda, what you are really up to, and your true intent. Ethics show the world where you have come from and where you are going. Please, show us your ethics or the lack thereof.

Ethics are simply what is right and what is wrong. Did I say simply? I would wish it were just that simple.

Now, to the question at hand. Let us try out our ethics. Let’s suppose from this day forward, that we were going to be ethical with any and all matters concerning our elders or senior citizens, however you may call them.

Let me ask you, dear friend, would you change anything? Anything? Or would we need to rewrite a whole new system of thought concerning these all-too-often forgotten people.

Where do you start? How about the old couple that live just right next door? Or those relatives whom you have not seen for years now living in a nursing home. Although many of these facilities do a great service, there is no one like your own family to lift the human spirit.

What is the right thing to do? Look around you, notice how others treat their elders. Better yet, what does God think? At any rate, we all have a big job ahead of us.

– Send e-mail to Cloyce Thornton at cloycet@aol.com.

Obedience, respect and caring for parents

Moussa Elbayoumy, director, Islamic Center of Lawrence, 1917 Naismith Drive:

When I think of “elders,” the synonym “parents” immediately comes to mind, since any elder is almost always somebody’s parent. From this perspective, caring for the elderly can be viewed as caring for one’s parents.

Islamic teaching places a great emphasis on obedience, respect and caring for parents, especially as they get older. God states in the Quran (Islam’s Holy book, 17:23-24): “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor chastise them but address them with honor and dignity. And lower unto them the wing of humility and mercy, and say: ‘My Lord Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did care for me when I was young.'”

Parenting and raising our children and properly caring for them is the greatest responsibility an individual carries, and in return children owe their parents their full commitment, compassion and dedication when they need care in their old age. From these verses it is clear that our gratitude to God for his blessings implies our gratitude to our parents without which our faith is not complete.

This does not specify a particular method of caring for the elderly parents whether at your home, their home, or anywhere else as long as we do our utmost best to provide the care they need and deserve, without taking an easy way out of that responsibility, for the Quran also says: “God does not burden a soul beyond its ability.” May God always enable us to perform our duties to him and return the favor to our parents.

– Send e-mail to Moussa Elbayoumy at director@islamicsocietylawrence.org.