Love the sinner, not the sin

Thursday.  Ascension Day, 2020.

I love people. I love their kindness and quirkiness and their unexpectedness. I love the rogues and the cheats and the con men even though I deplore the hurt and damage they do. It is the old adage: 'love the sinner not the sin'. I am fascinated by the variety of people, their characters and their lifestyles. I try to turn the other cheek, I attempt to love my enemies. I try to love the perpetrators of evil because I think love can conquer all. I hate the evil they do and believe firmly in justice and taking responsibility for what one does and taking the punishment, which should fit the crime and the criminal. 

The human being can be ruthless yet also generous beyond imagining. 

The news as ever today contains horrors such as the super cyclone in Bangladesh. Even in the hell of its devastating effects there are examples of courage, self sacrifice and many helping others. We continue to see the same in reaction to the pandemic. 

This morning I am in a buoyant mood and love the whole range of individually unique persons. I am not sure what love means in this context but I want the good for all.

I suppose my positive mood was given a start by the arrival of a parcel. I have a catheter. All sorts of people react in all sorts of ways to that news. Most seem sympathetic. Some are embarrassed, some change the subject, some are fascinated and concerned, some feel it is not 'quite the thing to talk about'. Fine...whatever, whatever, we all have varying and differing reactions to such things. 

The parcel arrived. I recognised the writing but had no idea of the content. There was an almost illegible letter within with various diagrams and quotations from songs and poems. The main item was in a plastic bag with a large label. The label read: 'alternative gentlemen's pants. Reinforced for urine.' They are like a giant nappy. I am informed they cost £2 a pair or £3.50 for six pairs. I love them! They are almost a piece of kitsch art. They were sent with love and kindness and concern. They made me realise that some people see me very differently from the way I see myself. Am I an old man with incontinence! Phew.....that needs digesting! 

I noticed in my round up of articles in the news a video. It concerned George a fan of Portsmouth Football Club. On the video George told us he suffered mental distress and that he had recently attempted suicide, waking in hospital. This fact had come  to the attention of one of the players of the club who was a hero in George's eyes. The player had got hold of George and has become a confidante. They talk of their stresses and meet. George noted how the man had saved his life.

As I listened I recalled the many people I know who mentor others. One corresponds with death row prisoners. Another is a prison visitor. A third mentors prisoners who have done their time. Also others are mentors or guardian angels to the homeless or mentally distressed. An army of good people. I then recalled the wonderful friends I have...those who listen, who are there, who do not judge and who have the love to tell it as it is and the sensitivity to say it kindly.

If you receive a mildly quirky, rather bizarre gift in the post rejoice. A pair of urine retaining gentlemen's underwear is a sign of love.

#quirky #underpants #loveyourenemies