Once there was a Catholic priest who made calls regularly in the home of a young widow. The widow had not been seen to leave her house by any people in the surrounding area. Somebody started passing a rumor. Some busybody began to be suspicious. Two ladies "put two and two together" and began to gossip. Suddenly the young widow died and the community was informed that she had been secretly sick with cancer. Only her priest knew about it. He came regularly to pray for her and to help her. But someone with a dirty mind had started talking. The two ladies who were responsible for it all came to the priest and said, "We are sorry, truly sorry. Why didn't you tell us, Father?" (A priest or a minister frequently cannot defend himself without violating somebody else's confidence.) The priest answered, "All right, if you're sorry, take this feather pillow, go to the top of the hill, and let the feathers fly where the wind will carry them." And they did. When they came back with their empty pillowcase they said, "Father, we have done this. Now, will you forgive us?" The priest answered, "Not until you go out and pick up every feather and put them all back in the sack and bring it back to me." They said, "But that is impossible, Father. The winds have blown the feathers to the four corners." To which he replied, "So it is with your words."
Hopefully this is recieved by most as a reflective thought not to be confused with a story to make you feel guilty about being like the two women in any way. We all are, in our worst moments, there is always time to choose to do your best to change. To seek real benefit from your words requires an active peaceful nonjudgemental mind, when you start thinking like this then there is little time left wasting it on others in any negative means. Then you will have more time to achieve what you really want in life and people will genuinly enjoy being around you. It's quite the domino effect, once others realise that you only see the best in everyone regarless of their shortcomings.
Peace
M@
