The Bishop's Candlesticks

I have included this story, The Bishop's Candlesticks, in two previous Nick's Bytes posts. I was reminded of it during an online dialogue yesterday and have decided to post it again.

The Bishop’s Candlesticks

But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. 

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. ~ Luke 6. 27-34 (NRSV)

I still do a lot of blogging these days. Since my movement is restricted by a need for oxygen and a bum leg, much of my awake time is spent writing blogs. I suppose one could say that blogging has become my media of ministry. For example, a while back a blogger posted about an incident that had him questioning whether he had done a good deed or been scammed. That reminded me of a decision I made many years ago: not to be concerned about being conned, and so I wrote an article about it.

I have been scammed and conned by many folks, often when I knew what they were up to, but their need seemed great even though their method of seeking assistance was false. I believe that some folks do not feel they are worth asking for assistance, so they make up a story to justify the aid they are seeking. 

I made decision to give unconditionally to these folks after I read Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and thus gained a new understanding of the 6th Chapter of Luke. The story in Les Misérables that so enlightened me I have labeled “The Bishop’s Candlesticks.” Here is that story as I remember it:

The protagonist, Jean Valjean, after being imprisoned for about 20 years for stealing bread to feed his family, is released but, as an ex-convict, can find no work and is himself on the verge of starvation when he comes upon the residence of a bishop and seeks food from the Bishop’s servants. The Bishop himself invites Valjean into his home and provides him the hospitality of dinner at his own table and a bed for the night. When it comes time to retire, the bishop sends Valjean up to his room with one of the two very expensive silver candlesticks that grace the bishop’s dining table to light his away.

The following morning the servants of the Bishop awaken him with the revelation that not only has their guest departed before breakfast, but he has taken the costly candlestick with him. Later the same morning the police arrive at the Bishops residence with Valjean in custody and inform the bishop that they found the ex-con in possession of the candlestick that was recognized as belonging to the bishop. They asked the bishop to identify the candlestick so that they may charge Valjean with the theft.

The Bishop speaks directly to Valjean rather than the police. He says that he is sorry that Valjean, his guest, departed before sharing a fine breakfast with the him. The Bishop then hands Valjean the mate to the candlestick he had stolen, saying, “You forgot this, my friend. I gave you both candlesticks. What good is one without the other?”

The police release Valjean, who at that moment is changed by forever by the Bishop’s benevolence. He leaves with both candlesticks, walks to a nearby town, sells them, and using the proceeds, becomes a wealthy factory owner, known for his honesty, generosity, and just dealings who eventually becomes mayor of the town.

Of course, there is much more to the book, but this story that I have told many times. I usually use it as a story that I tell without commenting upon it, thus allowing those who hear it glean whatever they need.

Blessed  are those who have ears to hear and faith to act. Amen.

You may be interested in my recommendations below:

October will be a very difficult month financially for my Kitty Kids and me

Please click below

I Wish I Were Multilingual

mul·ti·lin·gual

ˌməltēˈliNGg(yə)wəl,ˌməltī-/

adjective

1. in or using several languages.

Et III annos memini Latineque Existimabam admodum aliquantulus.

I studied Latin for 3 years and can remember quite a bit.

درست اللغة العربية في جامعة ويمكن بالكاد تذكر أي شيء ما عدا القليل من القواعد

I studied Arabic in University and can hardly remember anything except a little grammar. 

J'ai étudié le français à l'université aussi, et peut-être pourrais commander dans un restaurant français ou peut-être pas.

I studied French at University also and could maybe order at a French restaurant or maybe not.

Ich Deutsch studierte an der United States Defense Intelligence School in Washington, DC, und kann immer noch auf einem einfachen Gespräch zu führen.

I studied German at the United States Defense Intelligence School in Washington, D.C., and can still carry on a simple conversation.

.למדתי עברית בסמינר ועדיין יכול לקרוא קצת את התנ"ך

I studied Hebrew in seminary and can still read a bit of the Bible.

Σπούδασα στην ελληνική σχολή και μπορεί ακόμα να διαβάσετε ένα κομμάτι της Αγίας Γραφής.

I studied Greek in Seminary and can still read a bit of the Bible.

Estoy estudiando español ahora y avanzando muy lento.

I am studying Spanish now and making very slow progress.

I wish I could speak to every human being in the world in his or her own language and share with them 

the good news of love, justice, and peace.

Please...

Earth Needs Love

with thanks to my friend, Vishwas Prasad, for the idea

Serious Thoughts: The Great Mandela Redux

I first published this blog post in January of 2009. I think it's time to again share it:

If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is  part of yourself. 

What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us. ~ Hermann Hesse

He's a martyr.
He thinks he's a prophet
But he's a coward.
He's just playing a game.He can't do it,
He can't change it.
It's been going on for ten thousand years.~ The Great Mandela

The single clenched fist lifted and ready,

Or the open hand held out and waiting.Choose:

For we meet by one or the other. ~ Carl Sandberg 

I was seeking a video of The Great Mandela to accompany a post I was in the process of writing. When I can upon the video below—which features the voices of Richie Havens as well as Peter, Paul and Mary—it stopped me cold. This video says more than I can ever say—and in a very powerful way.
Please take the short time required to watch all of it. Please.

The Great Mandela

(The Wheel of Life)

So I told him

That he'd better
Shut his mouth
And do his job like a man.
And he answered,
"Listen, father,
I will never
Kill another"
He thinks he's better
Than his brother that died.
What the hell does
He think he's doing
To his father
Who brought him up right?

Take your place on
The Great Mandela
As it moves through your brief moment of time.
Win or lose now,
You must choose now,
And if you lose you're only losing your life.

Tell the jailor
Not to bother
With his meal
Of bread and water today.
He is fasting
Till the killing's over.
He's a martyr.
He thinks he's a prophet
But he's a coward.
He's just playing a game.
He can't do it,
He can't change it.
It's been going on for ten thousand years.

Take your place on
The Great Mandela
As it moves through your brief moment of time.
Win or lose now,
You must choose now,
And if you lose you're only losing your life.

Tell the people
They are safe now.
Hunger stopped him.
He lies still in his cell.
Death has gagged his accusations.
We are free now.
We can kill now.
We can hate now.
Now we can end the world.
We're not guilty.
He was crazy,
And it's been going on for ten thousand years!

Take your place on
The Great Mandela
As it moves through your brief moment of time.
Win or lose now,
You must choose now.
And if you lose you've only wasted your life.

Christmas Blessings

I created this video for Christmas, 2008. It is my favorite creation. May it being a blessings to you and yours.

Cut Funding to Domestic Programs to Balance the Budget?

Today I spoke with someone who suggested that all national domestic programs must be drastically cut to obtain a balanced budget. Here is my response:

 Personally, I spent all of my savings and had my house foreclosed upon in the years after I was disabled in 2003. Now, at age 65, I am dependent on $1281/month to survive. (My last salary as a clergyman was $4200/month plus a housing allowance and medical insurance). I am nor surviving.

(2) All communities/nations are judged by the manner in which they care for the least of them: the children, women, elderly, infirm. The U.S. is very low among the world’s nations in this.

(3) If cutting must be done (the U.S. has always had a national debt since the beginning; hell, we’re still paying for the Revolutionary War), the I believe in should be in the $167.9* ($460,000 per day) budgeted for FY 2011 for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 * Source: The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation: Estimated Iraq and Afghanistan War Funding FY2001-FY2012


We look to the day when sharing by all will mean scarcity for none (United Church of Christ Book of Worship)

Sunday Music: I Love You, Joan!

In the past 24 hours, I've been listening to many years of Joan's songs. I seem to not be able to get enough of her.  Lord, I so love this woman, her voice, and her music!

And, finally, a message to the Republican governors and legislatures of Wisonsin and Michiagn and to all of the
neo-fascists sitting in the Congress of the United States of America:

A Grand Memory

Today I visited a video that I've not seen in years. Wow! I had forgotten how much this eleven year old performance touched me -- touched me then, touched me now.

As I watched it over and over again, I found I had tears running down my cheeks. They were tears of joy remembering the empathy and love expressed in those days before the reign of George W. Bush. They were tears of sadness at how much we have lost--so much compassion, so much community, so many of the performers in this video. They were tears of hope; hope for the children and for the future of this world.

I invite you to watch it, remember, feel the empathy and love and compassion, and hope:

Shalom, my dear friends.

The True Light

I had forgotten that I created the video below as my 2008 Christmas blessing. I realize that Christmas is four months away; however, the love, peace, joy, and promise of Christmas has no limits,

MY DEAR FRIENDS