Showing posts with label respect. Show all posts
Showing posts with label respect. Show all posts
Friday, January 20, 2012
Food for Thought:
Is it possible genuinely to respect a view or perspective while rejecting it and opposing it? If a view or belief or perspective is genuinely respected, will it not be accepted as valid and true?
Friday, December 16, 2011
Respect for the Elderly
Yesterday as I worked in a neighborhood in which I have worked on other occasions, two young boys came home from school and approached me. I have met them before. Actually, one came home from school and the other is home schooled. They are nine years old and in the fourth grade.
My work intrigues people, especially young people. My equipment is impressive. I have chainsaws and pole saws and power pole saws and ropes and shears and trimmers and a big truck. Probably the most impressive piece of equipment is the brush chipper. I have used this machine for over a decade and every time that I use it I still feel awed by it.
Young boys are full of energy and questions. As I reached into my boots to pull up my socks I was asked, “Do you keep money in there?”
“No, I answered, “there is no money in my boots, but they do cost a lot of money.”
“How much do they cost?” he asked.
To this the other boy responded, “You don’t ask the elderly that kind of question, how much their clothes cost!”
“He’s not elderly!” the first boy retorted.
“Yes, he is!”
“No, he’s not!”
“Yes, he is! He’s probably 53!”
For the rest of the day and on the way home and even now as I think of it, I cannot help but to laugh. I’ve been laughing for hours.
I said, “You’re close.”
“How old are you?”
“51.”
“51!”
“51?!”
“See!”
I am not certain, but I think that what was meant is that one should show respect for one’s elders. But, to nine year old boys, 51 is elderly.
Who can argue? The AARP has begun pestering me to join their corruption. And for my line of work, I am way beyond the age of those who climb and trim trees. My body certainly agrees with the boys.
And so I have a joyous time of laughter at one boy’s innocent questioning and the other boy’s desire to be respectful.
+ + +
(Leviticus 19:32) Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.
(Proverbs 16:31) The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
+ + +
My work intrigues people, especially young people. My equipment is impressive. I have chainsaws and pole saws and power pole saws and ropes and shears and trimmers and a big truck. Probably the most impressive piece of equipment is the brush chipper. I have used this machine for over a decade and every time that I use it I still feel awed by it.
Young boys are full of energy and questions. As I reached into my boots to pull up my socks I was asked, “Do you keep money in there?”
“No, I answered, “there is no money in my boots, but they do cost a lot of money.”
“How much do they cost?” he asked.
To this the other boy responded, “You don’t ask the elderly that kind of question, how much their clothes cost!”
“He’s not elderly!” the first boy retorted.
“Yes, he is!”
“No, he’s not!”
“Yes, he is! He’s probably 53!”
For the rest of the day and on the way home and even now as I think of it, I cannot help but to laugh. I’ve been laughing for hours.
I said, “You’re close.”
“How old are you?”
“51.”
“51!”
“51?!”
“See!”
I am not certain, but I think that what was meant is that one should show respect for one’s elders. But, to nine year old boys, 51 is elderly.
Who can argue? The AARP has begun pestering me to join their corruption. And for my line of work, I am way beyond the age of those who climb and trim trees. My body certainly agrees with the boys.
And so I have a joyous time of laughter at one boy’s innocent questioning and the other boy’s desire to be respectful.
+ + +
(Leviticus 19:32) Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.
(Proverbs 16:31) The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
+ + +
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Stupid Welfare Mentality
Yesterday afternoon, a dear friend and business associate did me a big favor, meeting me at a WalMart parking lot to finalize the arrangement. While we were standing beside our trucks, a lady walked up and presented to us beaded key chains with notes attached indicating that she was deaf and was selling these for $2.00 each.
I gave her $2.00 and declined the key chain, not needing one but not having the heart to turn down a deaf person seeking to earn some money. My friend had a handful of change and gave her that, also declining the key chain.
Today as I thought about this I realized that I should have received the key chain or declined the offer altogether. What I did was exactly the same foolishness that the government does with its welfare mentality.
While I cannot know for certain that this woman’s claim to deafness is legitimate and not scamming people, what I saw in her eyes told me that I had made a mistake. I sensed it at the time and have realized it more fully the day after.
What was my mistake? I robbed this lady of the joy of producing something and receiving compensation in exchange for her product. I robbed her of the dignity of contributing to society by working and putting her ingenuity into practice. Her eyes showed disappointment, but then she gave a gracious gesture of thanks with her hand and mouth.
At the time my actions seemed like the loving thing to do. In retrospect I see that this was not a gesture of true love. Love would have shown this lady genuine respect. What I did was really to demean her and to discount her attempt at productivity. My action was one of wanting to do the right thing, which is not the same as acting in response to true love.
Now I can certainly name a number of things about this situation that call her motives and her approach into question. That is not the point. Even if she were a scam artist, my actions and motives are the point. There is a lesson in this, from which I hope to learn and to grow.
I gave her $2.00 and declined the key chain, not needing one but not having the heart to turn down a deaf person seeking to earn some money. My friend had a handful of change and gave her that, also declining the key chain.
Today as I thought about this I realized that I should have received the key chain or declined the offer altogether. What I did was exactly the same foolishness that the government does with its welfare mentality.
While I cannot know for certain that this woman’s claim to deafness is legitimate and not scamming people, what I saw in her eyes told me that I had made a mistake. I sensed it at the time and have realized it more fully the day after.
What was my mistake? I robbed this lady of the joy of producing something and receiving compensation in exchange for her product. I robbed her of the dignity of contributing to society by working and putting her ingenuity into practice. Her eyes showed disappointment, but then she gave a gracious gesture of thanks with her hand and mouth.
At the time my actions seemed like the loving thing to do. In retrospect I see that this was not a gesture of true love. Love would have shown this lady genuine respect. What I did was really to demean her and to discount her attempt at productivity. My action was one of wanting to do the right thing, which is not the same as acting in response to true love.
Now I can certainly name a number of things about this situation that call her motives and her approach into question. That is not the point. Even if she were a scam artist, my actions and motives are the point. There is a lesson in this, from which I hope to learn and to grow.
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