Soldier On! w/Leroy Garrett — Occasional Essays

Essay 109 (2-11-06)

ANCIENT WISDOM (1)

One of my favorite writers is Bill Bradfield. who is the inspiration behind what may be the most impressive church library among us, at the Skillman Church of Christ in Dallas. But he is far more than a church librarian, having been an award-winning editor of suburban newspapers in the Dallas area. He has also, along with his wife Clare, published three books about Texas towns.

Their Tandem Towns of Texas (2002) makes for interesting – and surprising – reading. They regale the reader with odd, weird, and funny names of real towns in the Lone Star state – Noodle, Fort Spunky. Little Hope, Big Foot, Jot ‘Em Down, Twitty. Tuxedo, Oatmeal. And have you heard of Ding Dong, Texas? They searched out how these names came about.

You have heard of Crawford, Texas, but how about Cut and Shoot, Texas? And Johnson City, the home of another President, but how about Old Glory, Texas – or Fair Play or Golly? And if Uncertain, Texas would be a risky address, how about Veribest, Texas?

Not to suggest that any subject can be as big as Texas, Bill Bradfield has also long been in pursuit of wisdom, especially when expressed in brief, pithy aphorisms. He issues "Fresh Quotes" from the Skillman c hurch library twice a month, one for each day of the year, and they have a way of making your day. He would likely add your name for the asking. His email: whb@txtowns.com

He has recently published The Book of Ancient Wisdom, with more than 500 inspiring quotations from the Greeks and Romans. With his permission I am passing along to you a sampling of these. We can make them a part of our own pilgrimage of wisdom.

One of my favorite definitions of wisdom (and valor) is that wisdom teaches us what to do next, while valor is the doing of it. The following quotes -- from the wisest of the wise -- teach us what to do next, and they make for weighty discussion on what life is really about.

Adversity

If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart. – Socrates

Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm. - Publillius Syrus

If there would be no tribulation, there would be no rest. If there were no winter, there would be no summer. – John Chrysostom

Beauty

Beauty of style and harmony, and grace and good rhythm depend upon simplicity. - Plato

I know a man who, when he saw a woman of striking beauty, praised the Creator for her. The sight of her lit within him the love of God. – John Climacus

I pray, O God, that I may be beautiful within. – Socrates

Contentment

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not, but remember what you have now was once among the things only hoped for. – Epicurus

The best of blessings: the contented man. – Horace

He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not, but rejoices in what he has. – Epictetus

Courage

Blessings on your young courage, boy. That’s the way to the stars. – Virgil

Sometimes even to live is an act of courage. – Senaca

The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it. – Thucydides

Envy

We are all clever enough at envying a famous man while he is alive, and at praising him when he is dead. --Mimnermus

I am sure the grapes are sour. -- Aesop

The man who covets is always poor. – Claudian

Friendship

A true friend is a sort of second self. – Cicero

True friends visit us in prosperity only when invited, but in adversity they come without invitation. -- Theophrastus

There are only two people who can tell you the truth about yourself: an enemy who has lost his temper, and a friend who loves you dearly. – Antisthenes

Haste

To do two things at once is to do neither. – Publilius Syrus

Nothing is seen clearly and certainly by a man in a hurry. Haste is improvudent and blind – Livy

Make haste slowly. – Octavian Augustus Caesar

Justice

Justice is the earnest and constant will to render to every man his due. The precepts of the law are these: to live honorably, to injure no man, to render to every man his due. – Justinian I

More laws, less justice.-- Cicero

The manner by which the unjust can be taught the beauty of justice is to teach them, by simple means, the results of injustice. – Euripedes

The only time an unjust man will scream against injustice is when he is afraid someone will practice it on him. – Plato

Kindness

Wherever there is a human being there is a chance for kindness. – Seneca

Kindness begets kindness. – Sophocles

Mercy imitates God and disappoints Satan. – John Chrysostom

The purpose of the law is to keep the strong from always having their way. – Ovid

Law is order, and good law is good order. – Aristotle

God enjoins what we cannot do, in order that we may know what we need to ask of him. – Augustine

Notes

Ouida and I will attend the ACU Lectures Feb. 19-22. The Restoration Forum, an annual unity gathering, meets in conjunction with the Lectures. I will speak on "How We Tried to Reconcile: A History of 20^th Century Unity Efforts in the Stone-Campbell Movement" on Monday, Feb. 20, along with Chris DeWelt from the Christian Churches. I will be part of a panel on "A Biblical Mandate for Unity – How Can We Live It Out?" that has three sessions.

I will be a guest speaker at the "Reconciliation In Black and White´ conference, along with longtime friend Ivory James, Jr. of Jacksonville, Florida, sponsored by the Minneapolis Central Church of Christ in Minnesota, This congregation, where Kenneth P. Garnier is senior minister, is mainly African-American. We are to discuss "the misuse of race, women, and relics or sacred cows" and " to provide biblical-practical ways through which the local church can counteract them." The dates are Feb. 24-26.

Note: All the previous essays are available at www.leroygarrett.org, along with other of his writings.

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