A new take on "Thou shalt not steal".

"If I take anything that I do not need for my own immediate use and keep it, I thieve it from somebody else. It is the fundamental law of Nature, without exception, that Nature produces enough for our wants from day to day; and if only everybody took enough for himself and nothing more there would be no pauperism in this world, there would be no man dying of starvation. I am no Socialist, and I do not want to dispossess those who have got possessions; but I do say that personally those of us who want to see light out of darkness have to follow this rule. I do not want to dispossess anybody; I should then be departing from the rule of Non-Violence. If somebody else possesses more than I do, let him. But so far as my own life has to be regulated I dare not possess anything which I do not [need]." -Mahatma Gandhi

I've lately been reading a book by an Anglican priest who was a friend of Gandhi, about this rather remarkable thinker of our time. While I can't say that I agree with all of Gandhi's philosophies, especially concerning that there are many paths towards salvation, I believe that he has much to say worthy of consideration. This passage in particular stood out to me. As I considered it, Christ's teaching about the spirit of the Law came to mind. Christ says that if you hate your brother without cause, then you have murdered him already, or that if you look at someone and lust, then already you have committed adultery with them. In other words, one doesn't have to physically do the deed to be guilty of it in God's eyes.

When the rich young ruler came to Christ and asked him how to become perfect, Christ told him to follow the law, which the ruler claimed to have done from his youth. Christ then instructs him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. The young man went away sad, for he had much. By the letter of the law, he was no thief, for he had not stolen that which belonged to someone else. But perhaps by being unwilling to give, he was a far worse thief than if he'd actually taken something. For while a thief can steal something they legitimately need, such as food or clothing (not that it's right), he was unwilling to give when he had much.

Christ summarized the Law thus: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. When one who has anything is unwilling to give to one who has nothing, then they are blatantly ignoring that commandment. You don't let someone you love go hungry or be cold. When you love someone, you want them to be full and warm and safe, even at the cost of your own luxury. When you love someone, you don't rob them of your charity.

I confess that I myself, am one such terrible thief. Let us meditate upon the law, and open ourselves up to the spirit of it, rather than just the letter. Perhaps thereby we'll see less people hungry, and more set upon the path to salvation. Amen.

Vincent Christian.

"Generic" goodness.

As some of you know, I've recently begun studying Kung Fu, a Chinese martial art that requires great strength and dexterity (both of which I greatly lack for now). Anyway, even after a few weeks of classes I still find myself remarkably sore after class, and especially when I wake up in the morning. To try and ease the pain, I bought a tube of sports cream, kind of like Bengay, except for the much cheaper Wal-Mart brand (since I'm cheap). So last night I got home after class and decided to treat my sore legs and back so that I'd wake up a little less cranky. I smoothed the cream on and felt nothing. "Bah," I thought, "that's what I get for buying the cheap stuff." But after a few minutes, I found that my entire body felt as though it were on fire! That "cheap stuff" packed a punch! I had to wait for it to ease up before I could even go to sleep.

Sometimes in life we get a false impression that because something isn't "the Name brand" it is somehow inferior. I guess that people can be kind of like sports cream in that aspect. The outer shell might not look like much, or even when you start to get little bit of a feel for them they just don't seem to have that substance. But give them a chance to work, let them get a little deeper, and BAM! Burning legs! Or hearts or whatever in the case of people. My point is, that just because a person doesn't seem to be making any progress in their social, economic or spiritual life, that doesn't make them inferior in anyway. I know this is something we all know in our heads, but sometimes it's difficult to apply it in real life, especially when you're confronted with a person whose beauty is hard to see. However, if I had merely gone and washed the muscle rub off and cast it aside, I'd have never known what it could really do. Give people a chance, believe in them, and don't be shocked when a dim little flame turns into warming bonfire that gives warmth and light to many. Amen.

Oh, and for those concerened, my muscles do feel much better, though my Kung Fu master still has me plenty sore.

Vincent Christian