A QUALITY WE SHOULDN’T FORGET He was less than half my age when he died. The accounts about him, much of it second-hand and riddled with errors and revisionism, are limited to only three years of his life. But during that time, he inspired people by his care for them, going to the extent of risking his life by challenging the religious and political leaders. In his followers’ accounts, one quality stands out – his unconditional love not tainted by self-serving motives. It was so impressive that they remembered it long after he was gone. They could only describe it as divine. We know about many famous people because position and power have perpetuated their names. But we know about this man mainly because his followers’ accounts were so inspiring that they have withstood the test of time. What is significant about this centuries later, at least for me, is that the followers identified a quality that makes all the difference to our lives. It is rare but not unknown. We encounter it in our lives as well and may even have been a channel for it at times. I too experienced it – in the lives of two late friends. The first was Monu Bhattacharya – I remember his care and concern for me when I was going through a personal crisis. The second was Gordon Harper, who suddenly contracted cancer and was given only months to live. He wrote a series of letters to all of us who knew him, to let us know the news. They were light hearted and filled with his typical humour and ended with his death a couple of years ago. Now when I review them and read between the lines, one message stands out: “I love you guys”. Is it presumptuous to equate this with the experience of that of the followers of Jesus? No, it isn’t. That experience was not a one-off event centuries ago but refers to something that keeps happening even today. As our species continues to poison the planet, as the clergy tries to blind the masses and as politicians loot the nation, this quality is the only thing that can give us hope and keep us sane. And it is all important to not forget this, to identify it when we see it and to celebrate it. Merry Christmas to all of you. Jim Wiegel 401 North Beverly Way, Tolleson, Arizona 85353 Tel. 011-623-936-8671 or 011-623-363-3277 jfwiegel@yahoo.com www.partnersinparticipation.com So through the eyes love attains the heart, for the eyes are the scouts of the heart. And the eyes go reconnoitering for what it would please the heart to possess. And when they are in full accord and firm, all three in one resolve, at that time perfect love is born from what the eyes have made welcome, to the heart. Joseph Campbell
On Dec 24, 2017, at 17:03, David Dunn via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
Wow!
David
On Dec 19, 2017, at 7:41 PM, Ellie Stock via Dialogue wrote: ...as she grasps your hand for help, for each of us is the midwife of God, each of us.
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