In a small Eastern European town there was a local inhabitant who continually slandered the local rabbi.
One day, realising the wrongfulness of his behaviour, he asked the rabbi for forgiveness and offered to perform any penance required to make amends.
The rabbi told him to fetch a feather pillow from his home, cut it open, scatter the feathers to the wind, and then return. The man followed the rabbi’s instructions to the letter, then came back and asked, “Am I now forgiven?”
“You just have to do one more thing,” answered the rabbi, “Go and gather all the feathers.”
“But that’s impossible,” the man protested, “the wind has already scattered them.” “Exactly,” explained the rabbi, “And although you truly wish to correct the evil you have spoken, it is as impossible to repair the damage done by your words as it is to recover the feathers.”
Do you ever wish there were words that you had never spoken? Sometimes we speak words that we regret because we have not taken the time to really listen before we speak. As it says in Scripture: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…” (James 1:19).
Oh wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were quick to listen and slow to speak!
I invite you to attend our “To Listen is to Love” Workshop next Sunday evening – 18 March from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Alan
