Comments on: Meanwhile… http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/ The Blog of the Provost of St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:21:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ruth http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3771 Ruth Tue, 15 May 2007 08:25:40 +0000 http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3771 Isaac Asimov, familiar to many as a noted scientist and author, once told a story about a Rabbi Feldman who was having trouble with his congregation. It seemed they could agree upon nothing. The president of the congregation said, "Rabbi, this cannot be allowed to continue. Come, there must be a conference, and we must settle all areas of dispute once and for all." The rabbi agreed. At the appointed time, therefore, the rabbi, the president, and ten elders met in the conference room of the synagogue, sitting about a magnificent mahogany table. One by one the issues were dealt with and on each issue, it became more and more apparent that the rabbi was a lonely voice in the wilderness. The president of the synagogue said, "Come, Rabbi, enough of this. Let us vote and allow the majority to rule." He passed out the slips of paper and each man made his mark. The slips were collected and the president said, "You may examine them, Rabbi. It is eleven to one against you. We have the majority." Whereupon the rabbi rose to his feet in offended majesty. "So," he said, "you now think because of the vote that you are right and I am wrong. Well, that is not so. I stand here" --and he raised his arms impressively-- "and call upon the Holy One of Israel to give us a sign that I am right and you are wrong." And as he said this, there came a frightful crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of lightning that struck the mahogany table and cracked it in two. The room was filled with smoke and fumes, and the president and the elders were hurled to the floor. Through the carnage, the rabbi remained erect and untouched, his eyes flashing and a grim smile on his face. Slowly, the president lifted himself above what was left of the table. His hair was singed, his glasses were hanging from one ear, his clothing was in disarray. Finally he said, "All right, eleven to two. But we still have the majority." Isaac Asimov, familiar to many as a noted scientist and author, once told a story about a Rabbi Feldman who was having trouble with his congregation. It seemed they could agree upon nothing. The president of the congregation said, “Rabbi, this cannot be allowed to continue. Come, there must be a conference, and we must settle all areas of dispute once and for all.” The rabbi agreed.

At the appointed time, therefore, the rabbi, the president, and ten elders met in the conference room of the synagogue, sitting about a magnificent mahogany table. One by one the issues were dealt with and on each issue, it became more and more apparent that the rabbi was a lonely voice in the wilderness. The president of the synagogue said, “Come, Rabbi, enough of this. Let us vote and allow the majority to rule.” He passed out the slips of paper and each man made his mark. The slips were collected and the president said, “You may examine them, Rabbi. It is eleven to one against you. We have the majority.”

Whereupon the rabbi rose to his feet in offended majesty. “So,” he said, “you now think because of the vote that you are right and I am wrong. Well, that is not so. I stand here” –and he raised his arms impressively– “and call upon the Holy One of Israel to give us a sign that I am right and you are wrong.” And as he said this, there came a frightful crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of lightning that struck the mahogany table and cracked it in two. The room was filled with smoke and fumes, and the president and the elders were hurled to the floor. Through the carnage, the rabbi remained erect and untouched, his eyes flashing and a grim smile on his face.

Slowly, the president lifted himself above what was left of the table. His hair was singed, his glasses were hanging from one ear, his clothing was in disarray. Finally he said, “All right, eleven to two. But we still have the majority.”

]]> By: Ruth http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3770 Ruth Tue, 15 May 2007 07:33:51 +0000 http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3770 I once gave up picking my belly button for lint. Not a mixed metaphor, but a very poor pun! I once gave up picking my belly button for lint. Not a mixed metaphor, but a very poor pun!

]]> By: Zebadee http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3768 Zebadee Mon, 14 May 2007 15:51:47 +0000 http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3768 Kelvin, A long time ago I came to the conclusion that I am part of the opposition and remain loyal. You are ,as usual correct, to criticise is to threaten and the 'Tower of Babel' will fall. In fact the sky will fall down as well. Kelvin,

A long time ago I came to the conclusion that I am part of the opposition and remain loyal.

You are ,as usual correct, to criticise is to threaten and the ‘Tower of Babel’ will fall. In fact the sky will fall down as well.

]]> By: kelvin http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3767 kelvin Mon, 14 May 2007 14:18:25 +0000 http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3767 One thing politics has over the church that is worth thinking about is that in the church there is no concept of loyal opposition. If you criticise anything at all, for many the whole edifice comes tumbling down. One thing politics has over the church that is worth thinking about is that in the church there is no concept of loyal opposition. If you criticise anything at all, for many the whole edifice comes tumbling down.

]]> By: chris http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3766 chris Mon, 14 May 2007 14:05:02 +0000 http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3766 I wonder if the problem might lie in the nature of the perceived job you guys have to do. Most punters still expect Christians ( and therefore the clergy especially so) to be gentle, sweet and mild - do they not? So you don't tend to let off steam in the course of your public ministry, but rather tread softly, hold the coats, avoid taking sides and keep smiling. Whereas in the classroom I could explode when necessary - thereby releasing all sorts of tensions - and no-one thought it other than part of the job. The customers even enjoyed it, if it wasn't their turn. I may return to further navel-gazing at my own place ... unless Good Works get in the way in the form of Christian Aid envelopes. :-| I wonder if the problem might lie in the nature of the perceived job you guys have to do. Most punters still expect Christians ( and therefore the clergy especially so) to be gentle, sweet and mild – do they not? So you don’t tend to let off steam in the course of your public ministry, but rather tread softly, hold the coats, avoid taking sides and keep smiling. Whereas in the classroom I could explode when necessary – thereby releasing all sorts of tensions – and no-one thought it other than part of the job. The customers even enjoyed it, if it wasn’t their turn. I may return to further navel-gazing at my own place … unless Good Works get in the way in the form of Christian Aid envelopes. :-|

]]> By: vicky http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3765 vicky Mon, 14 May 2007 10:37:19 +0000 http://www.thurible.net/20070514/meanwhile/#comment-3765 I love mixed metaphors :) I love mixed metaphors :)

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