“If you think some praise is due him,
Now’s the time to slip it to him
For he cannot read his tombstone when he’s dead.”
A line from An Irish Proverb by James O’Leary. It’s a bit of wisdom reminding us to speak the good word when we can.
And that’s why I selected this to begin, for the good word is this. If you have ever thought about setting out to walk daily for health, or for exercise, or just for being outdoors, or if someone has suggested it, a doctor, or a friend. Now is the time to start.
Why? The air is bracing and fresh; the morning is pleasant and usually quiet, so conducive to thought or meditation, and any person you meet will give a cheerful greeting, or return your cheerful word, and the breakfast to follow will taste so much better. Different, really, because you have developed a sharpened appetite. So, that explains the beginning above. Simply a pleasant way to begin.
What lies on my mind are questions, troubling problems. I am referring to that troubling story that happened with that Rutgers University student.
A review of the movie about Facebook suggests that this is an invention that really serves no real need, nor does it have a stated purpose. It seems to pander to the dark side of nature.
The action sort of leaves us with a snapshot of the result when nearly a fifth of people under the age of 30 say they have no religion, or religious leaning, or training, nor do they care.
I can say Luther had a word about this when he urged, when dealing with our neighbor, always to “Put the best construction on everything”.
Jesus said this, remember His teaching, The first and greatest commandment is this, ‘thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and the second is like unto it, ‘thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself’.” Matthew 22, 37.38. And then Jesus said, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”. V.40
Would it have made a difference if these people had this teaching in mind?
There was a time when respecting ones privacy was a matter of manners. We might call it civilization.
So, when others are victimized; when pictures are taken, and displayed, without permission, be outraged; raise the roof, point a finger and yell, no more.
“Be kind to one another, forgiving, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you”.
GPD 10/4/10
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