On a recent trip I met a
fascinating fellow, among his myriad of stories, he told about his son who
attended a Quaker boarding school. According to this fellow, the boarding school
day began with an hour each morning where the community met together and
talked. A person might share a unique experience that happened the day before
(maybe in the last week, but since they did this every day, most sharing was
fresh and recent). The students and faculty might discuss something that
happened within the school the previous day. People would also work out
differences that surfaced with one another during these times. Essentially the
first hour of each day was set aside for keeping ‘short accounts’ and sharing
the joys, hurts and experiences of life with one
another.
This non-Quaker,
non-Christian father was quite impressed with the harmony, connectedness and
love that this school modeled starting each day like this.
Living together in
community or as a people is difficult. Even well intentioned people ruffle the
feathers of others who think differently, throw in selfishness and sin…and well…
read the newspapers and see what kinds of things
happen.
God’s intention was that we
live in community, and God set some rules for living, which governed the way
people should act toward others. I found myself pondering some of the
interpersonal rules we find in today’s chapter.
Do not
go about spreading slander among your people (16a). Speak
truthfully about one another. Imagine if our daily news, spoke respectfully
about others even when the viewpoints being expressed differed with
others!
Do not
do anything that endangers your neighbor's life (16b). Wow,
that is pretty far reaching! If only we could live that way.
Do not
seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people
(18a). Imagine in our families if we could live without bearing grudges. Maybe
that Quaker school was on to something, giving the first hour of the day to
repairing tears in relationships and sharing the experiences of life.
And so my thoughts went as
I read and meditated on some of the laws the Lord gave Israel
Lord God, how
can I live more in tune with the manner of life that you present to us? Your
opening words were to “be holy because You are holy.” I am so far from being
holy. Forgive me for entertaining sin-filled thoughts and for living selfishly.
Open my heart to the ongoing work of Your Holy Spirit. Cleanse me that I might
be clean; wash me that I might be whiter than snow.
Fill me with
Your love and compassion, Oh, Jesus, so that others might see You through the
way I live and the manner of life I lead. I pray this in the name of my triune
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
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