Encouragement

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Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. Matthew 10:29


In these times of who dares wins, who earns the highest wage, and who has the best of the high-flying jobs it is so easy to look down on those who are less fortunate or less gifted, and who at first sight seem to contribute little or nothing to society. In this fatuous "celebrity" atmosphere where we strive to emulate the "Beautiful People" by being the thinnest or the biggest or the most attractive, or the wealthiest we risk losing sight of what is really most important in life.

It is an undeniable fact that people are not equal in beauty, or physical strength, intelligence, background or opportunity, and we can only work with what Nature has given us. Nor are people equally inclined towards toward evil or violence or towards a spiritual existence, even if they have the same hereditary or environmental factors.

One man, born and raised in a Western society, and who is highly skilled with a computer may regard another who is a jungle dweller to be inferior to him. Of course it is most probable that the untutored native would not be able to work out the intricacies of the computer, but ask the high flyer to build a simple canoe and he too would most likely be completely out of his depth and unable to complete the task.

Life is a serious business and it is the duty of every one of us, no matter how privileged we may be, in terms of money or natural talents, to guard against the temptation to belittle or offend others or consider ourselves in some way superior to those around us. And let us tread carefully always lest some thoughtless word or act or deed, impedes the spiritual progress of a fellow traveller in this life.

Consider the wonderful true story concerning the Duke of Wellington, who was surely the most powerful and highly revered man in the country at the time. One day when the Duke was at the communion table, an old and very poor man took his place beside him. An embarrassed usher was about ask the old man to leave, but the Duke, sensing what was going on, took the elderly gentleman's hand and whispered to him, "Do not move, sir, we are all equal in this holy place".

In Matthew 7:16 we are told "by their deeds shall ye know them". Very true. Likewise we will be known and judged by our deeds, and if we wish to live in true harmony with our fellow man then we must grasp the opportunities to contribute that are given to us each day. Each one of us is of value in this life no matter what our place in society, so if we make each word and deed count in the service of others, then we will earn the right to live in a spirit of love and generosity.

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