Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: KINDNESS (11/04/21)
-
TITLE: Wisdom Rocks | Previous Challenge Entry
By LINDA GERMAIN
11/11/21 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Shaking her head in disbelief while watching television news, she would say, “If everybody would just do right, things would run a lot smoother.”
“Well, duh,” some would reply on hearing the obvious but having no clue how to accomplish that impossible feat.
This elderly lady, still feisty and healthy, had taught one thing or other to most people in the small town. If it wasn’t geography and history at the local high school, it was at church on Sunday mornings or piano lessons on Saturdays. She was loved and respected.
An oft-repeated citizen sentiment was that she held court on that wide front porch shaded by an ancient oak tree.
Being a genteel lady from the south, she always offered a glass of iced tea on hot days. Former students and old colleagues would stop by to refresh their parched tongues and revel in cooling doses of common sense.
Ernie Bleanstic, a frequent guest and good friend, was editor of the local paper.
“Oh, my goodness, Miss Veldina,” he would always begin, frosty drink in hand, mopping his face with a red bandana before proceeding with various versions of the same question, “Has everybody just gone plumb crazy?”
One particular warm afternoon, she sat for a few seconds before answering as she waved her old cardboard fan back and forth close to her face. The faded funeral home logo was nearly worn off, and the handle re-glued more than once. She didn’t care. It still worked just fine.
“Ernie, I’ve been studying that very thing and have an idea exactly what would change things in a positive direction. It’s something you could promote through your paper.”
Knowing her history for flashes of inspiration, the tired, middle-aged journalist took out his little notebook and pen, ready to record the plan. He felt it would be something big.
Over the next few weeks, there was a daily clue for the locals to read and ponder. People in town seemed hungry for each nugget designed to offer guidance in a world stewing in selfish behavior.
Ernie said they reminded him of a cartoon where lost souls struggle to the top of a mountain for advice from a mysterious prophet who sits cross-legged with a towel wrapped around his head and dispenses pearls of wisdom. In reality, it was just a sweet but still sharp, little old lady rocking and fanning on her wrap-around veranda attached to a house where she had lived her whole life.
Eventually, the major media types, tongue-in-cheek, picked up the amusing story and began to tease the world with the promise of a new secret rule to neutralize hate, anger, meanness, crime, and all forms of ugly and tacky behavior (as she called it).
She refused to be interviewed by any network giants from big cities or even Billy Bob’s local farm and garden radio show. All out of town press eventually drifted away, searching for more sellable kinds of never-ending drama and mayhem--or cute dog stories.
In the end, Ernie’s headline read MISS VELDINA’S KEY TO WORLD PEACE REVEALED AT LAST.
Things began to change for those who embraced the genuine premise, and the ripple effect was beautiful. But sadly, those who insisted it was just too simple remained miserable.
Ernie published a little book about her brilliant antidote for cruel and unkind behavior. It was summarized in the title that began, “Do Unto Others as...”
Imagine that--The Golden Rule!
(Hmm)
_____
Luke 6:31 (AMP)
Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
Luke 6:37-38 (MSG)
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
