Principles – «You and I» – Saturday February 4, 2017

   We resumed our topic of how a principled man acts when facing problems and difficulties. We also explained how dishonesty caused destruction of the villagers. On the other hand, there are merciful people who support one another. Mother Teresa once told a situation she witnessed when she brought food for a poor Hindu family whose mother thanked her a lot then offered half the food to her children, took the other half out and came back empty handed.

   Agnes, who was going to be mother Teresa, wondered about that attitude and asked her to where she sent the food. She answered while pointing at her Muslim neighbors’ door, “They haven’t eaten for days just like us”. Thus, Mother Teresa said, “I went back home with a lesson” then she added that they asked her when the world hunger is to end and she answered when we, you and I, start to share what’s already there. Indeed, hunger and other problems would come to an end if we apply our high principles and turn them into support and encouragement that help us and others to achieve progress. Many think that age of high principles did pass. However, principles would never cease to exist or lose its effect, they rather give their holders strength and support as they are originally derived from God’s commands to man. All one needs is to reflect on his character and principles from time to time so that he would not lose his way in life.

   A story told by a friend said that once upon time a little boy entered a shop and made a phone call to someone offering him his service as a gardener. The person he was speaking to apologized as he already hired an honest and hard-working person. The boy tried to convince him that he can offer more services for less. However, the man insisted and refused his offer. After finishing the phone call, the shop owner offered the boy a job; however the boy apologized gently as he was working for the man he just called but he wanted to know if he was doing his job perfectly. Many people like to evaluate their life and their work performance in order to achieve progress. Is there any difficulty that can triumph over those who resort to high principles as a philosophy of their life and seek to toil to achieve progress!

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center