Principles – “Beware!” – Saturday 20th of May, 2017

   Many times did we speak of the importance of doing good deeds: a principle that distinguishes human beings and God created us to follow. Good deeds that promote human beings include preserving others’ feelings. Some people limit doing good deeds on benefaction in all its ways and sorts. But in fact, we should know the circle of goodness includes different aspects. For example, how do you feel toward a person who gives the poor and the needy yet he oppress someone or hurt his feelings?!

   Could a person feel for those who are in pain for not having enough money yet be not able to recognize the sore feelings of those who are oppressed or hurt!

   I think that if a person can feel for a person in need, he will probably understand the pain that any person goes through as he has the same heart that feels for people’s deep pain!

   Thus we should consider our attitudes and behaviors toward others from time to time so we can see where we are from the good deeds that should be done for all people. For instance where are we from benefaction in all its sorts either as in financial or moral support?

   Where are we from maintaining human dignity of others who are the cream of God’s creatures and were crowned by their dignity and humanity? Where are we from preserving the feelings of others even when we offer them financial support? Here I would like to bring a quote by the poet Gibran Khalil Gibran, “You are merciful when you give others, but do not forget that you should turn your face so their shame would not be naked before your eyes”

   He also referred to another aspect of giving that preserves human dignity of the receiver “It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding”

   Dear friend, I hope you understand that out of true giving the need to feel for others arises and is depicted when you give them what they need unasked. Another matter that promotes your humanity is not to rash to hurt feelings of others as this kind of wounds is so deep, causes so intense emotional pain and is hard to be recovered from.

   The French Philosopher and Writer, Diderot, said “Beware lest your tongue precede your mind”

   Words can leave a deep scar in souls and if they go out you cannot take them back. A poet once said,

“Practice speaking good things

Thus you will evade a slip of a tongue and a foot as well”

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center