Steve arrived this morning to install a heating system at the Krishna Road Temple.
"Back
at the office, they had no idea what ya'll are about." he said,"I
showed Melody your most famous song, My Sweet Lord and told her I used
to see you people when I went to Chapel Hill University in the 70s."
He mentioned the robes, drums and cymbals. He also mentioned he is a follower of Jesus Christ. He said this in a kind manner, not at all implying that I had gone astray.
While
measuring the building, calculating the load for heating and air
conditioning, our conversation touched on music and mutual people we
know in the area.
I could sense he wanted to go deeper. I don't like to bombard people with more information than they want.
"Steve, do you read your bible much?"
"No, not really. Sometimes people ask me to speak, like at a funeral or something. I tell them all I know are two verses."
"What are those?"
"Jesus said you should love the lord with all your
heart, with all your soul and all your mind, and that you should love
your neighbor as yourself. That pretty much sums it all up."
Steve appeared to have imbibed that lesson.
"That's all one needs to
know about the bible really. I don't care to study the history of the
church and who believes what or how. That's the one lesson Jesus wants
us to learn."
"Steve, I think you've done well."
"It has served me well. I feel comfortable wherever I go and in this discussion with you."
It did feel very natural. Neither of us were trying to come out ahead, we were simply sharing.
"Knowing a lot can make one proud." I commented," Even if it's
scripture. Pride will keep us from loving and knowing God. I just heard a
story recently that I think you'll like."
"Yes, go ahead, please."
"A friend of mine contracted a severe form of hepatitis. He had a lot of
students that looked to him for spiritual guidance and advice. Although
he knew he would be passing away in a short time, he remained jolly and
loving, never complaining about his situation. To some new students he
explained, " This disease affects my reasoning powers, making it
difficult to do even a simple math equation. Sometimes I have no idea
where I am or what is going on. This has been a great blessing for me
because at these times I can only turn to God (Krishna) to guide my
heart. That is all I have. I cannot give you any practical guidance in
your life, I can only guide with my heart."
"That's the kind of teacher we can all learn from." Steve commented
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When I was an Anglican priest--I began the weekly Holy Communion with the words of Jesus from the Gospels, Steve quoted a part of it--I sense by what he recalls that he probably attended an Episcopal Church at one time.---I would say--Hear what Our Lord Jesus Christ saith---"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it;Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets."
ReplyDeleteJesus condenses, not only the ten commandments, but all of scripture by uttering those few lines.It's inspired and brilliant.There would not be the multitude of Christian churches and denominations if the people actually heeded those few sentences. But, Christianity has been polluted by thousands of so called clergy and theologians who are basically corrupted by their egos and own agendas.