October 20-A, 2022

**Pitcher Plants 02 04/30/2016 Oil Paint Rendered — Goodale State Park, Camden, South Carolina**

Jesus was good for, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."
"Love your enemy."
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

And, we think, "Okay. Got it."

Jesus was also good for, "Don't throw your pearls before swine,
or give dogs what is holy."

And, we think, "So, we don't love swine and dogs, right?"

Then Jesus tells the parable about the wise and foolish bridesmaids, where the foolish bridesmaids run out of oil
for their lamps, and the wise bridesmaids say, "We didn't take you to raise. You are responsible for yourselves! Go buy your own oil, we aren't sharing ours!"

And, we think, "So foolish people can be written off, right?"

And, it's hard to see how we are better off
for the directives Jesus hands out,
with one contradicting another, 
not knowing what to do.

Then, Jesus clarifies all of the confusion 
by asking, "Why don't you decide for yourselves
what is right?" And walks off into Galilee.

–0–

Published by jimwdollar

I'm retired, and still finding my way--but now, I don't have to pretend that I know what I'm doing. I retired after 40.5 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, serving churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My wife, Judy, and I have three daughters and five granddaughters within about twenty minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything. View more posts