FRIENDSHIP
The Virtue is Friendship and the Saboteur is Enemy.
Friendship is the Greatest Gift in the Universe.
Friendship is a sacred word, but it has fallen into the trap of familiarity. We use it very casually. That’s alright, but we must be vigilant as to how sacred the word friendship really is.
We live in a time when the word friendship seems to be over used and under utilized. Friendship begins with yourself. Treating yourself with dignity and forgiveness creates a habit that you will naturally extend toward others. This word is a sacred bond between individuals, families and countries. It’s a bond of trust.
The story of the Master Jesus is a story of friendship and betrayal.
His friend sold him for 30 pieces of silver, other friends denied him and abandoned him in the darkest of times.
Jesus was friends with His disciples, he was also a friend to those he healed, fed, comforted and taught. He didn’t promote religion or politics, he promoted love. In fact, he infuriated both of these groups and they finally conspired to take his life. They appeared to be jealous of how Jesus was naturally loved and respected by the people.
2,000 years later Martin Luther King and Gandhi would suffer similar fates by self possessed, self righteous individuals. Martin Luther King was moved by Gandhi’s ability to practice non violent resistance, which is what Jesus did in his time. MLK studied Gandhi’s words, as well as the words of Jesus. He was inspired by them. He wanted to create peaceful change, not create enemies.
Gandhi’s words
A true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.
Seven deadly sins, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, science without humanity, knowledge without character, politics without principle, commerce without morality, worship without sacrifice.
Gandhi was assassinated.
Martin Luther King’s words
In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
From my background, I gained my regulating Christian ideals, from Gandhi, I learned my operational techniques.
Non violence is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.
Four years later after he said those words, Dr. King was assassinated.
Abraham Lincoln’s words
The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.
The loss of enemies does not compensate for the loss of friends.
The President was assassinated.
Mother Teresa’s words
If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
Mother Teresa continued her work to make sure that people died not only with dignity, but with friendship. She felt it was important to look into people’s eyes while they were dying on the streets of India, because to leave this world unseen, just seemed wrong to her. She saw them. She was their friend.
Jesus’ words
Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Jesus of Galilee was also assassinated.
He was always their best friend.
Peace be with you,
Namaste
Thank you, Jacqueline. You remind us of the sacredness of all life and the sacredness of friendship therein. The picture of Jesus is beautiful. I may have never seen that one. (Why are Masters assassinated? Mirrors to others? From the Powers That Be?)
Your friend,
Deb