if it looks like . . .

We live in a skeptical and even cynical age. In a world where lying is common, various examples of human abuse are reported daily, and all too many of the arbiters of societal mores look more like disingenuous politicians than genuine role models, this attitude is completely understandable.

We’ve all been hurt by such individuals. We’ve all been disappointed by the behavior (or should I say misbehavior) of those we thought we could trust. People lie and cheat, at least some of them do. Men and women are fake, at least a good number of them are. In such a world, can we believe in much of anything? Can we trust anyone? Is anyone real?

First, I think it’s important to acknowledge the obvious. None of us has the right to expect anything close to perfection from any other human being. We are all frail and inconsistent at best. Indeed, even the most outstanding among us is not immune to silliness and foolishness and other human tendencies. Let’s face it; we all mess up more often than we’d like to admit. It is important to recognize, therefore, that no one deserves to be elevated to such a level. Indeed, no one needs the pressure of having to sustain a level of goodness that is, well, unrealistic. Any honest observer will immediately recognize his or her own inadequacies and will not be ridiculously demanding of others. This reality–that we all fall short–is precisely why our ultimate attention ought to be on the only one who can meet (and exceed) human expectations. Only God is perfect (obviously!), which means that only he should be elevated to such a position. (In fact only as we look at others through the prism of a perfect being (i.e., God) can we even see our human counterparts as they might be . . . but that’s another story.)

Still, the question remains: Is there such a thing as goodness? Is anyone for real? Though I say it with a measure of trepidation (for we’re all prone to goofiness), I truly believe in authenticity. In other words some people are truly kind, caring, and compassionate. They are never completely consistent in their ways, of course, but such individuals do exist. That’s the point.

Should we be skeptical of many things? Sure, for prudence demands that we walk with a measure of caution. Ought we be careful about the individuals to whom we entrust ourselves? Absolutely, for it would be naive to ignore the many examples of hypocrisy. But if we only look at human inconsistency, if we only notice insincerity, I think we are missing something important. You see, I believe–and maybe I’m just being puerile–that God’s imprint still makes its way into our world. I actually think that goodness, truth, compassion, and love can be found among us.

To be honest, I hesitate to place myself in such a category. After all, I am well aware of my own stupidity and the like. But I do know a handful of people (however uncommon) that I would place in this category, people of integrity and kindness, those who are for real. And I know that, despite my fickleness, at least in my better moments, this is what makes me tick.

There’s an old saying that goes as follows: “If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck!” Of course when it comes to matters of character and morality, we are a bit more critical than we might be about mere ducks. Given the stakes, this is probably a wise course. However, it is also important not to miss the meaning of the illustration. Sometimes (though not always), when you observe someone who is kind, he/she truly is kind. Once in a while, you will meet someone whose concern is authentic and whose heart is good. Believe it or not, acts of kindness are not always a smoke screen for some type of hidden agenda. Not every smile is fake, and not every act of kindness or word of encouragement is counterfeit. In God’s world, by God’s grace, there still exist people who are genuine. By God’s enabling influence, authenticity can still exist. If it looks like it’s real and sounds like it’s real, sometimes–thank God!–it actually is real. “Lord, enable us (me) to be what we (I) can be for you and others. Help us (me) to be real.”