Sabbath Messages > Sabbath Message: February 18, 2006
Good Sabbath
February 18, 2006
When Gandhi was asked what he thought of Western civilization, he answered that "it would be a good idea." And what would civilization be? Would it be digital movies, cellular phones that also takes photos, a Hummer that is as large and heavy as an elephant, a society that believes that there is a God? Or is it a society that believes that its own actions give strength to a God of reason and kindness, that we are built in the image of a God whose power comes from our actions, our behavior, rather than our words?
GE ran a special section, in the NY Times, featuring a baby under a headline "welcome to the earth". I used it in one of my graduate ethics classes. The ad mentions some of the inventions and progress that the baby would go through like: "you'll learn things in kindergarten your parents didn't know in college; you might take your first road trip in a car that runs on water." However, there has been no invention that has changed the nature of man. There is only one that might change human's nature and that is to believe in a God that causes us to humanize the golden rule; there is nothing else that could bring peace to a foolish world or shrink hatred or hostility faster. So what is taking so long?
Do you practice the golden rule, if no, why not? How long will you take to practice it because you believe in it?
Eli Wiesel said: "The Messiah is that which makes man more human, which takes the element of pride out of generosity, which stretches his soul towards others." I believe in stretching ones soul so that we become more inclusive, rather than exclusive; a soul that is sensitive to improving the environment, not just protecting it; a mind that learns wisdom, not just information.
The wonder of living is to live, not just exist. Anne Frank said: "I don't think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that remains." In youth there is hope when it finds that half-empty is also half full.
When we allow ourselves to get discouraged, we still have the power to see the good that nature contains, always sharing it with our eyes, ears and touch. To see penetrates blindness, to hear is never deaf to possibilities, to touch shares our warmth with those who need love and nearness.
My sweet Frances still struggles with not knowing what is the matter with her breathing; yet she receives calls from grandkids who want her to know how much she is loved and missed and the prayers that are communicated to God for her. So next week she'll go into a more holistic approach with a wonderful new doctor who was brought to our attention by Al, a fantastic friend who will be a guess speaker at one of my architectural classes. Sometimes you can feel love that is as strong as steel; yet, you can actually feel it, because its softness holds together friendship linked strongly with hope.
We can all be linked together if we know how to share and how to grab onto the love that is offered us. I think of my cousin Mark, whose beautiful Thai wife had back surgery. He feels her pain as if it were his back, just the way my blood pressure elevates when I can't do anything for Frances, my precious life partner.
It is time to link, by thought and deed, by possibility and need. We need each other. All it takes is a hand reaching out and then you'll discover soul and love and companionship.
sandy
