BE A GODLY MAN

 

          BE A GODLY MAN

“God” is defined as the being or spirit that is worshipped and is believed to have created the universe.

God has all the imaginable qualities. A few of them mention Him as omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, immutable,  holy,  just, faithful. wise, loving and merciful.

He is worshipped by one and all because all existence depends upon Him for its survival. Some of the quotes relating to Him are:

*He is a circle whose centre is everywhere, and its circumference nowhere. ---Empedocles, Greek philosopher (490-450 B.C.).

*The very word “God “suggests care, kindness, goodness; and the idea of God in his infinity, is infinite care, infinite kindness, infinite goodness. ---We give God the name of good : It is only by shortening it that it becomes God.---H.W.Beecher, American clergyman (1813-1887).

*It is impossible to govern the world without God. He must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligation. ---George Washington, American President (1732-99).

*God governs the world, and we have only to do our duty wisely, and leave the issue to him.---John Jay , US Chief Justice (1745-1829).

*There is a God in science, a God in history, and a God in conscience, and these three are one. ---Joseph Cook, American lecturer (1838-1901).

*I fear God, and next to God I chiefly fear him who fears him not.---Sheikh Saadi, Persian poet, (born 1210).

* God should be object of all our desires, the end of all our actions, and the governing power of our whole souls. ---Massillon Jean Baptiste (1663-1742).

                        Finally, what the Greek philosopher Plato (born 428/427 BCE-died 348/347 BCE)  said:  To escape from we must be made, as far as possible, like God; and this resemblance consists In becoming just, and holy, and wise.

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G.R.Kanwal

26 December 2024       

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

                  

 

POVERTY

 

          POVERTY   

“Poverty” is defined as state or condition in which an individual lacks the financial resources and essentials for a basic standard of living.

There are different levels of poverty like: Absolute poverty, Relative poverty situational poverty, generational poverty, rural poverty and urban poverty.

According to the World Bank : poverty is a lack of income to meet basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter.

Poverty is also defined as a lack of well-being, or a lack of capabilities to function in society.

Extreme poverty is defined as a condition related to severe deprivation of food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information.

Religiously, poverty is due to self-denial.

The main responsibility for reducing poverty is of the governments in power. They must recognize the causes of poverty in their countries and adopt the best and swiftest methods to abolish poverty.

Poverty is not God-given; it is man-made . Man’s greed and wrong  economic policies are responsible for several types of poverty.

The Greek philosopher and historian Plutarch (born in the 1st century CE) said “Poverty is not dishonourable in itself, but only when it comes from idleness, intemperance, extravagance, and folly.

According to the English clergy Caleb C. Colton (1780 -1832) : “In proportion as nations get more corrupt, more disgrace will attach to poverty, and more respect to wealth. There are two questions that would completely reverse this order of things: “What keeps some persons poor? And what has made some others rich? ” The true answer to these queries would often make the poor man more proud of his poverty than the rich man is of his wealth, and the rich man more justly ashamed of his wealth, than the poor man unjustly is of his poverty.    

Finally, this quote: He is not poor that has little, but he that desires much. ---English poet Samuel Daniel  (1562-1619).

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G.R.Kanwal

25 December 2024

 

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH

 

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH  

“The Village Blacksmith” is an inspirational poem written by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 -1882).

A biographical  note says that he was one of the Fireside poets and is remembered for his place in the Romantic tradition. “Paul Revere’s Ride” which is a narrative, fictional account of the beginning of the Revolutionary War is considered his best work.

Another poem for which he is very popular is “A Psalm of Life” where he says:

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

 

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal:

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

 

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way;

But to act so that each tomorrow may

find us farther than today.

 

In “The Village Blacksmith” he talks about the hard work which shapes our life.

Week in, week out, from morn till night,

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge

With a measured beat and slow,

Like a sexton ringing the village bell,

When the evenining sun is low.

                                    …….

And children coming home from school

Look in at the open door;

They love to see the flaming forge,

And hear the bellows roar,

And catch the burning sparks that fly

Like chaff from a threshing floor.

 

The Blacksmith goes to the Church on Sunday;  hears the parson pray and preach, also hears his daughter’s voice which sounds to him like her mother’s voice.

The poem ends with the following two stanzas a spiritual and philosophical touch.

Toiling, -rejoicing –sorrowing,

Onward through life he goes;

Each morning sees some task begin,

Each evening sees its close;

Something attempted, something done,

Has earned a night’s repose.

 

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,

For the lesson thou hast taught!

Thus at the flaming forge of life

Our fortunes must be wrought;

Thus on its sounding anvil shaped

Each burning deed and thought!

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G.R.Kanwal

24 December 2024

SOME BIBLICAL EXPRESSIONS

 

SOME BIBLICAL EXPRESSIONS

The Bible is a holy book of the Christian religion, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The Old Testament is the first part of the book that tells “the history of the Jews, their beliefs and their relationship with God before the birth of Lord Christ. “

The New Testament is the second part of the Bible that describes the life and teachings of Lord Jesus Christ.

The phrase Biblical expressions means words. phrases, idioms and metaphors which are used by the readers of the Bible in their speeches and writings. They are very impressive aesthetically, morally and emotionally and are quotable in many practical situations of life. Their acceptance is almost universal .  

Here are some selections : :

*He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

*Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

*Refrain your tongue from backbiting.

*Give us this day our daily bread.

*Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

*A living dog is better than a dead lion.

*For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

*Fight the good fight of faith.

*Fathers, forgive them ; for they know not what they do,

*Judge not, that ye be not judged,

*Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

*You cannot serve God and mammon.

*No man can serve two masters.

*Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

*He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it.

*Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonor.

*Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they are withered.

*A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

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G.R.Kanwal 

23 December 2024

 

 

 

 

TENDERNESS

 

                   TENDERNESS  

Tenderness has more than one meaning.  Whereas religiously it is a virtue, medically it is physical weakness. A tender part of one’s body is uncomfortable and painful. But tender-heartedness in normal human beings is an admirable quality. It relieves the pain of others and wins their love and gratitude.  

            Dictionaries define tenderness as softness, delicacy, sensitivity, sympathy, gentleness, kindness, compassion, generosity, benevolence, humaneness, etc.

            Children want tender-hearted parents, students tender-hearted teachers, employees tender-hearted masters and criminals tender-hearted legal authorities.

            Strictness appeals to minds; tenderness to hearts. Humans as also birds and beasts expect tenderness from those before whom they appear as offenders.  

            It is better to reform defaulters than to break them .God pardons wicked people innumerable times. He allows sinners to become saints better late than never.

            The English novelist Henry Fielding (1707-1754) who was also a magistrate wrote: A tender-hearted and compassionate disposition, which inclines men to pity and feel for the misfortunes of others, and which is, even for its own sake, incapable of involving any man in ruin and misery, is of all tempers of mind the most amiable; and though it seldom receives much honour, is worthy of the highest.”

            According to William Morley Punshon (1824-1881), an English Nonconformist:  Speak the truth by all means; be bold and fearless in your rebuke of error, and in your keener rebuke of wrong doing; but be human, and loving, and gentle, and brotherly the while.

            It will not be wrong to say that a person’s tenderness shows his faith in the philosophy of non-violence.

            Finally, this quote: Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.

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G.R.Kanwal

22 December 2024

 

 

 

RIVALRY

 

          RIVALRY  

Rivalry is defined as competition between two or more  persons or groups of persons having identical aims.

Healthy rivalry should have no conflict. Unfortunately, it is not so. History shows that rivalry often takes the shape of antagonism, conflict, fight, jealousy, strife and hostile contests.

Friendly co-operation rather than bitter competition should be the main  approach,  especially by social groups and political parties.

It is painful to see political associations and their individual members  adopting all sorts of unfair, even violent means, to achieve their selfish  goals.  

Unhealthy rivalry can cause hatred, disunity, caste-ism, communalism and other ugly relationships in a country.  It can spoil its systems of peaceful co-existence not only short-term but also for long times to come.

The English writer John Ruskin (1819-1900) said: Nothing is ever done beautifully which is done in rivalship; or nobly. which is done in pride.

  In modern times, there is a lot of rivalry among several countries in the field of business, education, industry, means of communication ,manufacturing of arms, etc.  

The results of modern rivalry are several global conflicts about  economic, political and religious matters.

Small and medium scale wars are taking place , killing millions of people including  innocent chilldren. The destruction of schools, colleges, hospitals , religious and welfare  places  is terribly vast.

Unfortunately, there are no international peace-makers  to reverse the trend  of  rivalry into that of co-operation and co-existence.

Finally, this significantquote: Competition is great. And as long as it’s friendly and not a malicious thing, then I think it’s cool. ----Janet Jackson, American songwriter.

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G.R.Kanwal

21 December 2024

 

              

           

GENEROSITY IS A VIRTUE

 

          GENEROSITY IS A VIRTUE 

Most of the religions provide lists of virtues and vices. If you look at them even casually,  you will find generosity as one of the cardinal virtues.

God is mentioned  everywhere as most generous. He has created this vast world so generously that nothing seems to be lacking. There is an infinite diversity and so plentiful adequacy that all humans and non-humans get in good measure what they need.

God is unselfish but man is not. Generous persons are few and far between. Most of the  men and women who have enough and to spare are close-fisted. They are not ready to share their possessions with the needy.

Somebody has rightly said: Generosity is the quality of being kind, understanding, and willing to give time, money, or other necessaries to people in need.

For example, think of distributions of blankets among the needy in severe winter; of food among the hungry in all seasons; of donation of blood for the sick now and then ; and of setting up water spots for the thirsty in harsh summer. But let not these acts of generosity and many more of other kinds stop or decrease. Contrarily, they should be multiplied with greater frequency.

The Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) said: True generosity is a duty as indispensably necessary as those imposed on us by law.—It is a rule imposed by reason, which should be the sovereign law of a rational being. He also  adds: True generosity does not consist in obeying every impulse of humanity, in following blind passion for our guide, and impairing our circumstances by present benefactions, so as to render us incapable of future ones.

According to the English poet-playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) : It is not enough to help the feeble up, but to support him after.

To conclude, this short but admirable quote: Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting.

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G.R.Kanwal

20 December 2024