As first referenced in the post, I Want To Be Poor In Spirit, I'm reading/studying Emmet Fox's classic The Sermon on the Mount: The Key to Success in Life (Amazon link).
In that post, I mentioned that Fox's secretary was the mother of one of the men who worked with co-founder of our Fellowship Bill W., and partly as a result of this connection early groups often went to hear Fox. His writing, especially "The Sermon on the Mount," became very popular in the Fellowship. And his work is woven throughout the book that outlines the course of study and the 12 Steps that are the basis of our Program of recovery.
It is, sadly for me, no longer de rigueur (as I understand it once was) to specifically focus on some of the spiritual & religious "sources" for the fellowships understanding of a "higher power." It's such a rich resource for deepening my own understanding as well as my practically applying the Steps. Such is life <smile>.
Digression done. Here's the point of this post...
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. (Mathew VII)
And Fox explains...
THIS section of the Sermon on the Mount consists of five short verses, and only about one hundred words, and yet it is hardly too much to say that at its simple face value it is the most staggering document ever presented to mankind. In these five verses we are told more about the nature of man and the meaning of life, and the importance of conduct, and the art of living, and the secret of happiness and success, and the way out of trouble, and the approach to God, and the emancipation of the soul, and the salvation of the world, than all the philosophers and the theologians and the savants put together have told us—for it explains the Great Law. It is vastly more important that a man, and still more that a child, should be taught the meaning of these five verses than that he should learn anything else that is taught in schools or colleges. There is nothing to be found in any of the ordinary courses of study; there is nothing to be learned in any library, or in any laboratory that is one-millionth part as important as the information contained herein. If it were ever possible to justify the fanatical saying “Burn the rest of the books, for it is all in this one,” it would be in reference to those words.
Judge not that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
If the average man understood for a single moment the meaning of these words, and really believed them to be true, they would immediately revolutionize his whole life from top to bottom; turn his everyday conduct inside out, and so change him that, in a comparatively short space of time, his closest friends would hardly know him. Whether he were the Prime Minister in the Cabinet or the man in the street, this understanding would turn the world upside down for him, and, because the thing is infectious beyond computing, it would turn the world upside down for many, many others as well...
Now there's a promise: To "immediately revolutionize your whole life from top to bottom," all you need do is to...
Judge not...
"Try it you'll like it" doesn't really seem to fit here, but it's worth throwing it out to you anyway. I am. Trying (I mean). Very trying <smile>.
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Thanks.
I appreciate you!
First ooff I would like to say excellent blog! I had a quick question which I'd like to ask if you do not mind. I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your thoughts before writing. I have had difficulty clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out. I truly do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips? Kudos!
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