«The hope of the righteous will be gladness but the expectation of the wicked will perish” (Proverbs 10:28).
During the expansion of the American frontier in the nineteenth century, many Europeans and colonists who settled on the North-American eastern coast traveled west in search of fields that could allow them to make permanent homes and live off the land. The story is told of an old man called Peter who had been living in a village in the far West. At sunset, he would sit in front of his house to watch the newcomers pass by. This was the common conversation Peter would have with any recent arriver who would ask him: «Good evening, good man. How are the neighbors around here?»
And the old man would answer,
«How were the neighbors in your old town?»
«My neighbors were impatient, willful, stubborn, suspicious, resentful, jealous . . .» would be the stranger’s answer.
Then Peter would respond,
«Well, same here.»
When another newcomer would ask him the same question, he would always answer:
«How were the neighbors in your old town?»
«My neighbors were kind, joyful, generous, caring, honest, tactful . . .» others would say.
«Well, same here.» Peter would answer. Peter had learnt that every human being could be good or bad, and that interpersonal relationships were not better or worse because of the place one lived in, but rather the attitude one used when reaching out to his fellow men. Those travelers had the option of noticing kind or evil traits in their neighbors, according to their expectations and attitude toward them.
Today’s text assures us that the hope (or future) of the righteous is happiness and that of the wicked will fade away. This has a direct relevance for interpersonal relationships, and we can conclude that the righteous has the highest success expectations in his relations while the wicked end up ruining theirs. Today, study the relationships of the people around you. Notice how they display evil traits and when they act kindly. You will see that their behavior and attitude varies depending on how they are treated by others.
With God’s help, use words, gestures, and acts that stimulate harmonious cohabitation, kindness, love, and mutual understanding in others. Remember the apostle Paul’s message, «And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you» (Eph. 4:32).