Oh Friends, I don’t have a Bit as yet because nothing so far has seriously spoken to me. However, I do have a quote to share, so we’ll do that and see where it leads. We’re positive though that spiritual guidance will eventually be forthcoming. Anyway, the quote comes from Renier Giustina Michiel, and it says: ‘The world improves people according to the disposition they bring into it.’ Now that’s an awesome truth my people! For when we come to the world with a sour, negative resentful attitude, that’s how we view everything around us. But if we bring a positive, pleasant, all things are possible demeanour, then we’ll view life in that positive light, which will make us better persons and also cause us to enjoy and appreciate life more. Of course there are the two extremes: people who are always so sour and miserable, if you threw them in a vat of water you’ll immediately have lemonade, very sour too, (smile) or they’re like a sour tamarind that will edge your teeth after two bites. On the other hand, there are those of us just two sweet and treacly for words. Hn! They’re always smiley, smiley. Nothing appears to faze them. Now those are a tad too syrupy, making you feel to barf, and also tend to turn you off after a while. The whole point Friends is to achieve a reasonable balance between our sweet and sour selves, somewhat like the sweet and sour foods we cook, but with the sweetness part having the upper hand. Sadly though my brethren, for whatever reason, it certainly seems that nowadays there are more sour, miserable, resentful folk in our world, than the positive, pleasant ones. Just walk down any Main Street and try to strike up a conversation with a stranger, even if it’s only to ask for directions, and see the negative reaction you’ll get from many of them. They’re either afraid, too busy, or simply too selfishly wrapped up in their own problems to help someone else. Have you noticed too, that these days people are afraid to make eye contact, especially with strangers? Everybody holds their head straight up, eyes facing forward, to discourage any eyes making four. What does that say about our society eh? It certainly doesn’t show us in a good light. Remember the days when it wasn’t a crime to talk to a stranger. But now, that’s the first thing we drill into our children’s heads: ‘Don’t talk to strangers!’ Granted that’s become quite dangerous, but Friends, why do we always have to swing from one end of the pendulum to the other? Why can’t we find a happy balance that truly enhances our quality of life, rather than living at the extremes? Our lives need equilibrium to bring out the true joy and wonder of it all, and jumping from pillar to post and back again will only produce a mad-hatter’s parade. Look at Jesus’ life when He sojourned on earth. He was a part of everything, hung out with everybody; good and bad, rich and poor. He didn’t show no setta resentment or dislike, although I’m sure there were some He wasn’t overly fond of. That’s the way we need to be my people; careful in our liaisons, but nonetheless active, friendly and participating in as many walks of life as possible. That’s the Christian way. A perfect example of this happened to me last night. I felt a craving for a roti, so I stopped in at a West Indian restaurant that I’d never patronized before. It seemed pleasant enough; about a dozen people were eating and drinking. The only negative aspect was the music, though sweet Caribbean riddims, it was way too loud. To avoid that, I went to the right side of the bar, but even then I still had problems communicating my order. While waiting, I sat at the bar watching a replay of the 2007 World Cup of Cricket match between England and Pakistan. That was fine by me since I don’t get a chance to watch much cricket up here. Sitting to my right were two gentlemen, both obviously into their cups, who seemed to be strangers to each other, but within a couple minutes of my sitting down, they both engaged me in conversation, even offering to buy me a drink, which I politely declined. The point being, that neither of them knew me from Adam, but something in them, or me, brought out this desire to converse. Now I could have behaved sour and foolish and refused to talk to them because both were obviously somewhat inebriated – one kept flashing me the two fingered peace sign – or behaved in a pleasant manner and chat politely with them, like I did. My children complain that I talk to everybody I meet, but I can’t help it children, that’s just the way the good Lord made me. (smile) Some other hoighty toighty fool, a believer nonetheless, might have looked askance at the two drunk men and considered them unworthy of their time or words. But what would that have proven eh? Nothing but showing the believer to be a hypocrite! It might even have caused the two men to become rowdy, thereby causing an unnecessary disturbance. Instead, I just watched the cricket and talked with them, and they were perfectly satisfied. In their apparent loneliness, all they wanted from me was simple conversation, because it does say that something is lacking in our lives when we go to a bar on a Saturday night and sit and drink alone. When my roti was ready, I paid for it, said bye and left, none the poorer for having a short conversation with two inebriated, seemingly lonely men. Some day any of us could find ourselves in a similar situation. And who knows if one or both of those men might have actually felt better, or less lonely, that a perfect stranger was willing to spend a few minutes talking to them. Friends, the moral of the story is that we don’t who the Lord allows to cross our paths or why, but know one thing, that’s it’s never just a random circumstance. The Lord is either testing us to see our reaction to less than stellar circumstances, or He’s looking for us to offer some kind of help to those people. So please let’s stop behaving like we’re so much better than others just because we’re Christians or enjoy a better standard of living. Our Saviour just wants us to meet, greet and be decent to everybody, regardless of their social status. And sadly that has been a failing on our part. Oh Friends, let’s live up to the ideals and standards Jesus set nuh. That’s the only way we’ll ever accomplish His will. Let’s take our noses out of the supposed rarefied air we breathe, come down to earth and face real life, which is we all breathe the same polluted air, and were all created by the same omnipotent Being. That attitude will do much more to further God’s kingdom here below. Got to go and find a Bit now. Much LOVE!…Jesus…had a smile and a kind word for all…even His enemies… P.S. Found a most appropriate Bit within five minutes! Isn’t the Lord wonderful!
SCRIP-BITS 