… loving kindness, warm hearts, and the stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth. — David Niven, The Bishop’s Wife.
At least once a Christmas season, Suzy and I sit down to watch The Bishop’s Wife. For the few of you who never watched it, Niven who plays the Bishop ends the movie and his sermon by suggesting we fill the stocking of the Christ child with — “loving kindness…All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.”
It’s a very short homily but most effective. As I watched this year the words, “Stretched out hand of tolerance” struck home. Boy could we use a little bit of that gift these days. It seems that these days we have very little tolerance for those who are different, those with whom we disagree, or a million other bad reasons to be intolerant.
I am starting to compose my annual list of New Year’s resolutions. At the top of mine this year is a reminder to extend a stretched out hand of tolerance to all this coming year.
What’s on the top of your list?
Use the “Golden Rule” as my standard for interacting with all people in my future. Also, as an older person, I plan to accelerate my fading out so that my children have a chance to make their own way in this world. One of your children verbalized this request of us older farts! Have fun at the beach. Thanks Rainer
You are very wise my friend!