…the man, the boy, and the hotel

‎"Open your heart and you will open your mind. Fear subverts faith. Knowledge overcomes fear. The more that we come to know one another as brothers and sisters, no matter how different we may seem, the more we create peace and possibility. The challenge before us is to dare to listen. To step out from our bunkers into the open spaces between ourselves, as dangerous as that may seem, and encounter one another as we are. The other is us. The human family is our birthright. We are diverse by design. Open your heart and you will open your mind."
The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston, Choctaw

…the man, the boy, and the hotel

~unknown

A man and a young teenage boy checked in to a hotel and were shown to their room. The two receptionists noted the quiet manner of the guests, and the pale appearance of the boy. Later the man and boy ate dinner in the hotel restaurant. The staff again noticed that the two guests were very quiet, and that the boy seemed disinterested in his food. After eating, the boy went to his room and the man went to reception and asked to see the manager. The receptionist initially asked if there was a problem with the service or the room, and offered to fix things, but the man said that there was no problem of that sort, and repeated his request. The manager was called and duly appeared. The man asked to speak privately and was taken into the manager's office.

The man explained that he was spending the night in the hotel with his fourteen-year-old son, who was seriously ill, probably terminally so. The boy was very soon to undergo therapy, which would cause him to lose his hair. They had come to the hotel to have a break together and also because the boy planned to shave his head, that night, rather than feel that the illness was beating him. The father said that he would be shaving his own head too, in support of his son. He asked that staff be respectful when the two of them came to breakfast with their shaved heads. The manager assured the father that he would inform all staff and that they would behave appropriately.

The following morning the father and son entered the restaurant for breakfast.

There they saw the four male restaurant staff attending to their duties, perfectly normally, all with shaved heads. 

‎"Dear God, since most of my prayers turn into a shopping list, I thought I would just own up and leave you one. Please don't think me rude. These really are things I need. When you get a chance, please pick up some more hope. I always seem to need that. And some extra love. Faith, patience and humor: the staples. Get me a little courage if you would, to make the tough calls when they come around. I could use a generous amount of wisdom but I will get by with what you can spare. And time, please, just enough to put this list to good use. Thank you, dear God, I am grateful."
The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston, Choctaw

“Because the Teacher was wise, he taught the people everything he knew. He collected proverbs and classified them.  Indeed, the Teacher taught the plain truth, and he did so in an interesting way.  A wise teacher's words spur students to action and emphasize important truths. The collected sayings of the wise are like guidance from a shepherd.”

~ Ecclesiastes 12: 9-11 (NLT)

I.N.J.