Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?" "Up to seven times" said Christ.
Part of me wants to scream out: "Lord, you've got to be kidding me!" I'm a "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me" kind of person. I also live in an environment where forgiveness is a rare commodity. Christ tried to get Peter to realize that forgiveness should be granted as often as necessary. I don't know if Mel Brooks portrayed ancient Rome with any degree of historical accuracy, but I'd be willing to bet that back then, as now, “Don’t get mad, get even” was a more common rallying cry. Neither a slave nor gladiator would have been reluctant to taunt a friend with: “You’re not going to let him get away with that, are you?”. Or, better yet, I picture one Russel Crowe lookalike gladiator taunting another with: “What are you, a man or a mouse?”
It's been said that "any man can seek revenge; it takes a king or prince to grant a pardon." I believe that this week God's been granting some big time pardons. I'll admit that earlier this year I thought of God as a very petty and extremely vindictive tyrant.
A friend of mine has been out of work for over two years. Late last week he saw a job listed on the internet. He interviewed on Monday, was hired on Tuesday and started work today. This is well paid position for which he is qualified. It is a job for which he trained. It's not grunt work. We live in a society with rampant unemployment. We've all seen the videos on the evening news of long lines of people waiting for a Dancing With The Stars tryouts. We've heard the interviews where contestants talk about having hired personal trainers to prepare for an audition for the show Survivor. Good things don't often happen, at least so quickly. Certainly not for the homeless!
I'm homeless and have had some recent good fortune. I am learning to be grateful. For my own good fortune and that of others. Now, if you wrong me by hitting me with a stick, I'll be honest, I'll probably look for the biggest stick I can fit in my hands and chase you down the street. If I run out of breath and give up the chase, I may eventually regret my action. I've maybe found God, but not religion. I can sometimes find it within myself to mutter" "Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa" for any that I have wronged. But I'm not yet willing to turn the other cheek and say hit me again. I've still got a ways to go.
May I recommend for your enjoyment: If I pay twice as much, do I get more
I am by no means ready to die! So, with that fact established, let's begin at the beginning: See links for all the Genesis posts to date: Genesis Through My Eyes
In my not too distant past, if I were to see a street person, a bum, sleeping in a door front or on a park bench, I would have kept my distance and perhaps shrugged my shoulders.: He had the "smarts" to ask someone where to go, I didn't
Fortune has allowed me to come full circle and return to my earlier interest in photography. I am at that age were some weight loss would be beneficial. I certainly don't believe all photographers need to starve, but my initial goals are realistic, if not humble. The industry has changed tremendously, but the possibilities are unlimited. I am grateful that my parents' gave me a generic name. It's allowed me to explore numerous paths unhindered.
"I continue to seek exquisite beauty in my images, exploring all techniques, old and new".
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