It is said that what we put out in life comes back to us. If we do good, good comes back to us, and if we do bad, suffering comes our way. Is this true, however?
Mobutu Sese Seko was one of the most notorious and corrupt dictators of the 20th century. He had billions of dollars in Swiss bank accounts while the people he led in Zare (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) languished in poverty. For a time, Mobutu seemed invincible, but eventually he lost the trust of his people. By the time I moved to Zare in 1991, Mobutu held desperately to power, but we all knew that the boomerang of justice had him in its sites. By 1997, even his soldiers would not defend him. His government was easily toppled and Mobutu spent the remaining years of his life wallowing in exile.
The unfailing boomerang also responds to the good that we do. Toward the end of the Rwandan Genocide, Tutsi survivor Immacule Ilibagiza found herself on her knees at gunpoint. The Rwandan Patriotic Front soldier holding the weapon did not believe that anyone could survive the mass killing and insisted that Immacule was a spy. Before he could pull the trigger, another soldier came forward and greeted her, thus saving Immaculee's life. He had been a student of her mother, who taught in their village, and he held his former teacher in the highest regard. Even though Immacule's mother was already dead, the goodness that this woman shared with others saved the life of her beloved daughter.
Though these are extreme examples, the message is clear, and we can see how the boomerang also apply to our daily lives.
Take for example the gossip. Not only does he risk the wrath of the person he is talking about should word get back to her, he also loses the trust of the people he is speaking to. We ask ourselves, "If he speaks this way about my friend when she is not here, what is he saying about me?" Sooner or later the gossip will fall prey to the unfailing boomerang.
When we treat others with kindness, respect and gratitude, however, we create a very pleasant environment and bring joy into our lives. Examples of this abound among educators. A retired teacher recently told me about a woman she taught many years ago who is now a respected leader in her community. When this leader was a girl, she felt very self-conscious about the birthmark on her cheek. The teacher commented one day that she had "a beauty mark". Suddenly the girl's paradigm shifted, she felt beautiful and special. Many years later she met her former teacher and told her the story. There are few things more wonderful than knowing that one has made a positive difference in the life of a child.
No matter how we choose to act, the unfailing boomerang is always impacting our lives. Even though we may never be consciously aware of it, the things we do always come back to us in some way, shape or form.
