Sep
Setting an Example
People are watching. That is just human nature. The people who are around you on a regular basis notice you. You notice them. If you commute on the same bus or train every day, you probably notice a few people who are regular riders. If you have lunch at the same coffee shop every day, you probably recognize several of the regular lunch customers. They might not ever speak to you or let you know they see you, but you can be sure a few of them notice you.
People do notice. If you are in a position of prominence, leadership or high visibility, that notice brings responsibility. People will judge the group you represent by your actions. Their impression of you colors their opinion of that group. They judge by your example.
Around Heathenism, people with age and experience are viewed differently than others. People expect that these older Heathens know how to live right. For that reason, it behooves Heathens to remember that people take them as an example. Whether we realize it or not, the older of us are teaching by example. For that reason, our behavior and actions should be better than average.
Every one of us, young or old, is an example of our beliefs. We set that example the minute we walk out the door in the morning, and we do not stop setting it until we get home. People will take our actions, demeanor and behavior as an example of what we believe. Knowing that we are the ambassadors of Heathenism, we ought to try to act accordingly.
*****
Back in the early 1990s, we were wilder and much more bombastic. There were feuds, fights, shouting matches and enough mischief to make Loki take notice. Most of us acted as if our generation of Heathenry was the only one. Now we are here with three generations of Heathens. The wild days are over, and most of the feuds faded from lack of interest. Fortunately, most of the older Heathens have exchanged their wildness for wisdom.
In the unstructured and independent thing that Heathenism is, many lessons are taken from the experience and knowledge of older heathens. Rather than being the shouting of conflict, we have become voices of wisdom.
Had we known, we might have behaved better then. Most of us have a few regrets over disputes that did not have to happen. That is all water under the bridge. Today, we are responsible to set the example and provide the guidance of what Heathens should be.
