Blog 3398 – 02.21.2025

Brothers Dwelling Together In Unity

The only time that I ever recalling my dad growing a beard was in 1965 for the Sesquicentennial anniversary of our home town, Chattanooga. Dad proudly wore his Brothers of the Brush pin as he sported his wild and wooly look. Mom hated it, but that made dad all the more determined to keep it for the entire Sesquicentennial year.

My best buddy for many years wore a beard. We did not speak for several years toward the end of his life. He passed last summer still angry with me over some liberal or progressive opinion that I expressed on Facebook almost eight years ago. He wrote some pretty harsh accusations about me on Facebook at the time, even stating that I had beat my second wife. I suppose the reason that hurt so bad was that I had a hard time thinking someone I had known so well and whom I thought really knew me could ever think that was true. I even asked my former wife if she had started such a rumor and she denied it. Anyway, that was one of the big reasons that got I off Facebook and stayed off for many years. I only got back on Facebook recently so I could reconnect with friends and family, but mostly so I could see all the pictures that my daughter-in-law posts of my grand baby, Miss Emma Grace White.

My conservative friends, like my best buddy, and my progressive friends too are guilty especially when their arguments are particularly weak of resorting to character assassination. I happen to believe that is fighting dirty or hitting below the belt. Still some are so convinced of their truth that they feel justified in lashing out with rumor and innuendo when they are unable to prove their point to try to disqualify their opponent. I recall a college professor once stating that it is impossible to disprove a universal negative. I also recall a joke along the same line where the comic asks his friend, “Are you still beating your wife?” No matter how he answers he appears guilty.

Did you ever notice how quick people are to believe the worse of those they believe to be enemies. Sadly even brothers can sometimes allow differences to divide them and to make them act like enemies.

Today’s Psalm is often quoted in church to promote unity or getting along.

Anointing with oil in the Bible was done to denote that the recipient was either a king or a priest or in need of healing. In the New Testament it clearly states the we are all kings and priests with the power to heal not only the body, but relationships as well.

What is the unforgivable sin if not believing the worst of a friend or brother and being unwilling to forgive. Differences of opinion are to be expected, but we need not divide over them. Oil is not only used for anointing the heads, hair, and beards of king and priests and for healing the sick, but it also lubricates friction in relationships. That, my brothers is a good and perfect thing.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JuyuG2p8Gf40-mQoJsuNlKgxJxF0XOaA/view?usp=drivesdk

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother