A man who goes to challenge the wisdom of a Sufi sage. The Sufi says -
I'm told you've come to try to show you're wiser than I?
Yes.
Then, I'll share with you a dream and ask you about it.
Okay.
My hand was in the latrine; your hand was in a bowl of sparkling water. Now, tell me the meaning of the dream.
Obviously, this means you're following the way of unrighteousness, and I'm following the way of righteousness.
Well, that's only part of the dream, Sir. See, your hand was holding my hand, and my hand was holding your hand.
* * *
My response to this story: Yes and No. One hand in the latrine is every hand in the latrine; one hand in a bowl of sparkling water means every hand in a bowl of sparkling water. Relatively, however, our hands are our hands, not those of anyone else.
So, you and I need to keep our hands out of the latrine. When we keep our hands out of the latrine and in a bowl of sparkling water, we do that for everyone. When we do this for ourselves, we do it for everyone.
* * *
Now, let us look at two scriptures from the Christian Bible that can give some look into the bowl of sparkling water - and, let us not think this is just Christian teaching, for the qualities are universal: they are qualities of true humanness -
[T]he fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things (Galatians 5.22, NRSVU).
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about [or take account of] these things (Philippians 4.8, NRSVU).
In contrast to the Fruit of Spirit, the Galatians text reads -
The activities of the lower nature are obvious. Here is a list: sexual immorality, impurity of mind, sensuality, worship of false gods, witchcraft, hatred, quarrelling, jealousy, bad temper, rivalry, factions, party-spirit, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like that (Galatians 5.19-21, PHILLIPS).
"Things like that" can include so much. Including what has been called "the sins of the spirit." Among these is being judgmental of those who engage in the behaviors above. I would rather have as friend someone who engages in "drunkenness" than someone who feels he and those like them are better because they do not. And, as far as "witchcraft," I do not know what the writer means. That one word is an over-simplification. And, were the witch-burners of the past demonstrating Christlike behavior? Their hands were submerged in the putrid potpourri of pee-and-poop.
* * *
All about us are persons putting their hands in the latrine. They invite you to do the same. Loo lovers welcome you to partake in their loo behaviors. And, we each put our hands in the putrid mix at times. When we do, we can acknowledge it and choose otherwise. We can learn, thereby, to live more wisely. We are not trying to be better than others; we are aspiring to be more human.
How do we, then, take care of ourselves while remaining informed? How can we enjoy entertainment that aligns with our most deeply held values? How do you stay connected to your heart in times like these?
I encourage you to make intelligent choices about what you invite into your life, into your space. This does not mean receding into some holier-than-thou lifestyle, some moralistic puritanism - I tried that; it is a sure way to make yourself miserable, judgmental, and smugly self-adoring.
Wise living among far-flung foolery is living humanely, decently, and joyfully - in ways that keep you aligned with your deepest self and heart open to life. Your gift to others is your taking care of yourself. It is, also, your gift to yourself.
