THE OLD LADY AND ANA-Love your Enemies(2)

LIFE IS FOR THE LIVING

Editor’s Note: This is the fourteenth in a series of short stories dealing with my personal interpretation of selected verses from the Holy Bible offered under the title

“The Old Lady and Ana”.

THE OLD LADY AND ANA(Luke 6:35-38)

Love Your Enemies(2)

Ana sat quietly and listened intently as Uncle George spoke to the rest of the family gathered in the living room. He was speaking about his favorite subject, one about which he has spoken quite frequently. He was convinced that Muslims were our bitter enemies and that if they are not stopped they will soon take over the world. He gave many examples of the actions they have undertaken to undermine the western countries and the ruthless means they use.

After the visitors left, Ana went out to the patio where her grand mother was sitting reading her Bible. She sat next to the old lady and after a while she spoke:

“Gramma is Uncle George correct to treat the Muslim people as our enemies? I always thought that Jesus said we must love our enemies and not hate them but forgive them.”

The old lady paused for a moment and turning to her grand daughter she replied in a slow and deliberate manner making sure that Ana heard and understood every word:

“Yes my dear you are absolutely right. Throughout the Holy Scriptures, Jesus repeated over and over that we must not only love our enemies, but forgive them and do good to them. Let me read what the disciple Luke wrote in chapter 6:27-31”:

"But I tell you who hear me:

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.

Bless those who curse you.

Pray for those who mistreat you.

If someone strikes you on one cheek,

Then turn to him the other also.

If someone takes your cloak,

Then do not stop him from taking your tunic.

Give to everyone who asks you,

And if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

Do to others as you would have them do to you”.

The old lady paused briefly to allow Ana to assimilate the words she had just read, then continuing she said:

“God is a God of love. He makes no exceptions whatsoever and expects us, as his followers, to be no different. The very reason he sent his only son, Jesus, to suffer and die is that we should learn to be true Christians according to his teaching. He did not mince words when he told us to love our enemies and to help those who hate us. The world is full of hate and envy and pain and suffering, and by trying to confront this or ignore it only makes it worse. Just look at the world today and you will see what happens when there is no love or caring or respect, only hate. Instead of trying to understand and accommodate others who think different than us and to follow God’s teachings of Love and Respect, we choose to make them enemies and try to destroy them. So we end up going to war with indiscriminate death and destruction of innocent people on all sides. The situation is heart breaking because when it reaches this level, we ignore God’s wishes and replace it with hate and distrust. Your Uncle George is a small example of this".

Ana, appearing to understand what her grand mother was trying to explain, interrupted the old lady by noting:

“Is this why God said that we should bless those who curse us, or pray for those who mistreat us, or allow them to strike us or take our clothes. That is so hard to do!”

The old lady paused awhile to consider what she wanted to say to make sure that Ana receives the right guidance;

Indeed you are correct. God offers us no alternative but to live by his principles of love and respect. The only way to deal with an enemy is not to attack or reject him but try to understand and accommodate. By thinking good things, by blessing him and speaking good you not only do the will of God, but you remove a reason for him to fear you and hate you and above all you find a reason to replace your own suspicion with love.The world teaches us to hate and to seek revenge on those who harm us, but Jesus teaches us to forgive and to bless our wrongdoers. The world teaches us to be selfish, to lie or cheat or to ignore others, put ourselves ahead of everyone, to do what we have to get what we want at all cost. But Jesus teaches us mercy, and love and respect to all.

At this point, the old lady sat up, closed her bible and turning to little Ana she took a deep slow breath and continued:

“My dear Ana in my lifetime I have seen so many enemies who after periods of hate, and wars and killings have, with God’s graces, come to live in peace and love. Think of Germany and the rest of Europe, or of Russia (the evil empire) and the Western nations, or of Vietnam and China and the United States, or of Israel and Egypt. After years of being mortal enemies, they now are so closely inter-related that you would not believe that they were once determined to destroy one another. So you see my dear, irrespective of what Uncle George and others are saying of the “Muslim scourge”, I believe that this too will be resolved and God’s love will come shining through.

Ana, clearly relieved, jumped up, grabbed her grandmother will joyful enthusiasm and shouted as she ran off:

“God is a God of Love and you Gramma, are his true disciple”.

THE INDISPENSABLE MAN

Sometime ago I came across an interesting poem entitled “The Indispensable Man”. It was written and published in 1959 by the award winning poet and author, Saxon Nadine White Kessinger, of Idaho, who recently died at age 88years. Its impact on me was profound and lasting. In a simple, precise and very effective manner she presented a very convincing argument against thinking anyone is indispensable, and laid to rest the very popular and universally held notion that some of us are irreplaceable and that what we do, or say or think will have a lasting and indelible effect on this world and on the people who inhabit it.

There is a natural tendency for us to think that we are indispensable and to believe that without us, life will not be the same. To some extent this might well be true, especially in regards to our intimate world and our friends and family. It could be argued that it serves the very important role of providing an impetus for our self-growth and our ego, and a sense of comfort and security in living and planning. It is considered to be the most important force in the initiation and continuation of any drive or ambition we possess, and in providing a meaning for living. It is only when individuals begin to think they are indispensable, that they develop a compulsive and determined temperament to achieve, because they believe that their action will have impact on others. Her poem listed below, however left no doubt that our actions, however impressive, leave little long term impact.

The world’s history books are filled with accounts of people whose lives and actions have made them feel, or cause others to believe, that they were “indispensable”. Throughout the ages most, if not all, the great leaders have at some time or other felt that they were indispensable, and that their people will suffer without them. But the real truth is that despite all of the power or achievements they amassed in life, they become a memory and a reference after death. Inevitably life continues, others take over, and in time much of the work achieved is undone and replaced or modified. Charles De Gaulle, the great French General, Statesman, Founder and President of the Fifth French Republic, credited for leading the French resistance against the German forces during the 2nd World War, was precise and accurate when he replied, in response to being described as being indispensable to the nation:

"The cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men."

In every generation, in every community and every country throughout the world, men and women have appeared and have achieved such outstanding results as to earn them the label of indispensability. These special and unique people, by virtue of their strong personality, magnetic force, deep commitment or inner charisma are able to motivate and impress others to do and to achieve levels far above their expectation. George Washington, the founding father of the American Republic, Abraham Lincoln, the architect of the modern United States and Martin Luther King Jr., the great civil rights leader, are examples of great leaders whose actions earned the status of indispensability. Each one of these people earned the reputation by the strength of their commitment to the cause, their leadership performance and the reaction of the people they served. They certainly deserve the respect and approval for their effort in making their world a better place during their lifetime. But these people have all moved on and the work they started has continued on without them, proving that while they may not be forgotten, they are certainly not indispensable.

In her poem the author however makes the case that we devote our efforts to doing the best we can without trying to prove that we are indispensable. By doing this we succeed in developing a healthy, balanced sense of ourselves without any need to impress anyone. As I see it, this is a more realistic and reasonable approach and one which should be used more often. Doing what you do to the best of your ability will not only benefit others but ensures your own personal satisfaction, without concern to its long term survival.

In this respect, I can do no better than to repeat the excellent advice of St. Paul to the Romans contained in his letter to them (Romans 12:3):

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you,
not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think;
but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

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THE INDISPENSIBLE MAN

Sometime when you’re feeling important;

Sometime when your ego’s in bloom

Sometime when you take it for granted

You’re the best qualified in the room,

Sometime when you feel that your going

Would leave an unfillable hole,

Just follow these simple instructions

And see how they humble your soul;

Take a bucket and fill it with water,

Put your hand in it up to the wrist,

Pull it out and the hole that’s remaining

Is a measure of how you’ll be missed.

You can splash all you wish when you enter,

You may stir up the water galore,

But stop and you’ll find that in no time

It looks quite the same as before.

The moral of this quaint example

Is do just the best that you can,

Be proud of yourself but remember,

There’s no indispensable man.

…… Saxon Nadine white Kessinger, (1959)

LIFE AND THE GOLDEN RULE

I recently came across a copy of one of the great American painter and social commentator Norman Rockwell’s “The Golden Rule”. First published in the “Saturday Evening Post” edition of April 1, 1961, it ranks among the very best of the many paintings he produced and is recognized universally for the impact of its message of “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you”, given to us by Jesus Christ and recorded in Mathew7:12. In a series of brilliant brush strokes he was able to speak volumes to the single most fundamental rule for living and general principle of ethics for everyone, irrespective of race, religion or social standard, who inhabits this world.

The Golden Rule or more accurately, “The Ethic of Reciprocity” is a proven tenet that has existed and survived for as long as mankind has been in existence, and, in one form or another, has appeared in the folk lore of all the great societies and in the scriptures of every religion. It is the one single truth that knows no boundaries. Regardless of which faith, religion, tradition or community we examine, we find the constancy of the Golden Rule and the basic concept of its interconnectedness among all, irrespective of underlying differences, as a fundamental pillar of belief. It is indeed the single ethic of universal acceptance.

Ambassador Mussie Hailu, the Ethiopian chairman of the Interfaith Peace-building Initiative, speaking at the recently concluded World Summit on Human Rights, defined its role and impact on the world’s communities in following terms:

“The Golden Rule is not just a moral ideal for relationships between people,
but also for relationships among nations, cultures, races, sexes, economies
and religions. Clearly, the Golden Rule has the capacity to be the ethical
cornerstone in developing a Global Ethic as the human family works together
to build a peaceful, just and sustainable global society”.

Unfortunately, the world has yet to learn and to practice the real truth of this statement. One has only to look at the day’s news to quickly confirm that, rather than live within the guidelines and intent of this simple guide, we are driven by selfish, suspicious and avaricious desires to overcome and dominate our environment. This applies equally to us as individuals or as members of a social group, culture, race, religion, national group or any of the endless mixtures or computations that exist. Wherever you go in this world, or search the world’s literature or historical data, the constant recurring themes are reflected less by the requirements of the Golden Rules than by the insatiable drive for control, domination and self- gratification.

Whether it be the ignorant uttering of a politician, or the misguided attitude of individuals or groups against others, or a mother’s comment about her child’s friend or a neighbor, or the poisonous words of a reporter or news commentator, we are continually bombarded with endless efforts to thwart the essence and intent of the Golden Rule. But of all these influences, I believe that over the ages and continuing to this day, the predominant source of failure lies squarely in realm of organized religion.

Although giving lip service to the concept of man’s universality, the majority of religions will teach that they alone have the “truth” and take steps to convince its members that all others are misguided or wrong and that the ethic of reciprocity applies to them only and not to all people. Clearly by doing this they ensure their own survival. The fact that the world continues to be in turmoil can, to a large extent be traced directly to this fact and although we acknowledge allegiance to the concept, we very rarely apply its principles in our living.

This attitude has served to generate a great deal social upheavals over the ages with recurrent religiously-based hatred, distrust, violence, and conflicts. It has also resulted in large scale suffering and oppression, and in my opinion, is the single most constant factor in wars between different religions and even between segments of the same religion. This has led a number of serious historians to conclude that all conflicts have their start and/or continuation to the influence of religion.

To apply the golden rule successfully, we need to truly believe and accept that it applies to all humans and that we are all entitled to the same respect and acceptance. We have to acknowledge the effect our actions have on the lives of others and to consider how we would feel in the other person’s place. Crimes against humanity, whatever the excuse or in whatever form, require that the “victims” first be viewed as inferior or different. We can then justify our actions, however brutal or vicious, in the name of converting them to the “right” way. In the present world as we know it, this has been become so established that we all believe that difference equates to evil, and instead of living with the tenets of the golden rule, we join the rest in alienating and destroying it.

Only when we are able to truly apply the simple truth of the golden rule to all we do, and to believe that it is indeed the only way to ensure total eradication of the present escalating turmoil can we hope to see peace and harmony.

Martin Luther King Jr. spoke for all of us who truly believe in the principles of the golden rule, when he made his famous “I have a dream” speech:

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day

live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color

of their skin, but by the content of their character.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted,

every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough

places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall

be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia,

the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners

will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood”.



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Examples Of The Golden Rule, Ancient and Modern
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Socrates (436-338 B.C.)
Do not do unto others what angers you
if done to you by others."

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

We should behave toward friends
as we would wish friends to behave toward us.

Egyptian Saying(1580-1350 B.C.)
He sought for others the good
He desired for himself.

Christianity
Do unto others as you would want
Others do unto you

Buddhism
Do not hurt others in waysthat you yourself would find hurtful.

Confucianism
One thing that serves as a principleof conduct throughout one's whole life is:Do not unto others what you wouldnot have them do to you.

Judaism
That which is hateful to you,do not do to your fellow man.
-This is the essence of morality.

Islam
Not one of you is a believeruntil he desires for his brother thatwhich he desires for himself.Hinduism
This is the sum of duty:Do nothing to others which wouldcause you pain if done to you.

Sikhism
As thou deem thyself,
so deem others.

Jainism
One should treat all beings,
As he himself would be treatedTaoism
Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain,and your neighbor's loss as you own loss.

Zoroastrianism
(ancient Persian religion)
That nature alone is good, which keeps fromdoing unto another whatever is not good for itself.

Shawnee Indian
Do not wrong or hate your neighbor,
For it is not he that you wrong,
-You wrong yourself.

Yoruba Proverb (African)
One who is going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird,
Should first try it on himself, to feel how it hurts.

LIFE AND YOU (II)

Editor's Note:
The following is the second in a series of random collections on the

meaning of life, based on quotations from the greatest authors

and philosophers over the ages.

The interpretations are strictly those of the editor,

but the message is universal and worthy of serious consideration.

5.
"Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes

you feel most deeply and vitally alive,

along with which comes the inner voice which says,

'this is the real me', and when you have found that

attitude, ……..follow it."

This quotation by William James, the great American Physician, Psychologist and Philosopher, considered by many to be the father of American Psychology, stands out as a beacon pointing to correct human behavior and attitude. It constitutes a powerful basis of individual self-help, and is invariably incorporated in the advice and recommendations of all the inspirational speakers.

In a single sentence, he was able to project the fundamental components that make up any successful action. The steps he recommended were clear and uncompromising and were based on a few simple stages. You must begin by finding something which kindles your interest and desires, then be sure of your willingness to commit yourself and your spirit, and when you have, then follow your mind to fulfillment.

James stressed that, to a very large extent, our individual behavior depends on the strength of the attitude and belief we have within us, and that further, we all possess the capacity to improve our lives if we care enough and act accordingly.

We have all seen instances when people have surmounted enormous obstacles to achieve success and we stand amazed at their ability. But the real truth in all these instances, lies in the depth of commitment, the unwavering attitude and the belief in oneself exhibited by the individual.

These are properties we all possess, but in most instances, because of past experiences and negative attitudes, remain buried deep in our psyche by mountains of inadequacies and insecurities. It remains up to us to initiate the necessary changes needed to “find” our true selves. James summarizes this approach in the following way:

“Be not afraid of life.
Believe that life is worth living,
And your belief will help create the fact.”

6.

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life and
don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.
Most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
They somehow already know what you truly want to become."

Anyone who has even a passing knowledge of Steve Jobs, the brilliant American business magnate, entrepreneur, prolific inventor, co-founder of Apple Computers and Pixar Animation, will readily recognize the above quotation as an accurate self-description. Since the early age of 17 years he has been changing the way we see the world with an endless series of dramatic innovations born from his fertile mind, nurtured by his insatiable imagination and brought to fruition by an indomitable drive and an overwhelming courage. Over the course of his short life, he has successfully conquered any and every obstacle, rejection, objection, criticism and subterfuge hurled at him.

By any yardstick, Steve Jobs lives his life to the absolute fullest. Even when he contracted a serious and potentially fatal illness, he paused long enough to take steps to correct, as best as he could, his situation, and returned with greater enthusiasm to launch yet another and then another world class gadget.

Much has been said and written about this man. This includes an army of detractors who have not spared him with volumes of criticism. He is accused of being a very selfish, secretive man with few friends, who does not hesitate to crush anyone who opposes him. This may well be true but it does not detract from the fact that he remains a man of unique vision and an insatiable drive to succeed.

Despite his longstanding, recurrent and serious medical conditions, which are likely to significantly compromise his life, he will be one of a limited number of human beings whose actions assures them a place in the history books as having contributed meaningfully to the advancement of civilization. Very few of us can ever aspire to this lofty status.

7.
"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.
Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."

This profound statement, ascribed to the folklore of the great Cherokee Indian Nation of North America will go down as one of the most important advice ever recorded.

We are all born into this world full of hope and expectations, but too often we waste our lives in trying to conform, to do things to please our selfish desires or the demands of others. We spend our lives in accumulating material possessions or achieving fame and fortune at the expense of others. We give little regard to how our behavior affects the lives of our neighbors, and care less about their needs and aspirations. We are driven headlong with the desire to be successful without considering the damage we do to others by design or by neglect.

These are the trappings of our society’s “rich and famous”, whose embellishments and monuments are destined to disappear into oblivion, buried by the sands of time. …And the world is unconcerned!

And then there are some people who spent their time on earth caring for the needs of others and trying to improve the lives of those who because of illness, circumstances, oppression or neglect, are destitute and generally consigned to society’s rubbish heaps.

Throughout history, every generation has produced its compliment of candidates, all of whom possessed one common factor, their names and their works are indelibly recorded in the history of mankind. The world indeed has recognized these people and continues to do so with the passage of time. The names of people like St. Francis of Assisi, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Louis Pasteur and Albert Schweitzer, will live into posterity not for the empires they built, or the material wealth they acquired, but for the lives they led.
Margaret Mead, the renowned American cultural anthropologist, spoke for all of us when she recorded:

“Never believe that a few Caring people can't change the world.
Indeed, that's all who ever have”.



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