The World of Grandpa Don

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Gifts Rejected ... 7/14/01

I picked up one of Kahlil Gibran's books, The Garden of the Prophet, which I had read several years ago. In re-reading it, a passage stood out as if I had never read it before. In this passage, Almustafa, the Beloved Prophet, relates the following  parable to his friends.

"Behold, there was a man standing at the cross-roads with his hands stretched forth unto the passers-by, and his hands were filled with jewels. And he called upon the passers-by, saying: 'Pity me, and take from me. In God's name, take out of my hands and console me.'

"But the passers-by only looked upon him, and none took out of his hand.

"Would rather that he were a beggar stretching forth his hand to receive -ay, a shivering hand, and brought back empty to his bosom - than to stretch it forth full of rich gifts and find none to receive." 

The friends of Almustafa, did not understand the parable and left him. The meaning was, in fact, that the man with the gifts was the Prophet. His gifts were his wisdom and he felt that he could understand his rejection better if he were a beggar, rather than being rejected for offering something of value. 

But, we can go deeper into Gibran's message. How often, people put great effort into spreading the message of Jesus and are rejected. It happened to Jesus Himself. How it can hurt to know that you have something of infinite value, which is offered for the taking, and see the gift rejected along with the giver. 

Every day, people of all ages and conditions, some in great need, see the outstretched hand that is our churches and quickly look away, passing on by, not even looking to see if it is a beggar or someone offering a gift.

And, every week people of all ages and conditions enter the cross-roads of our churches. How many know and understand why they come? And how many understand enough to take the offered gift and use it to enrich their soul and the souls of others. Or, .. do they enter out of some misguided duty and close their eyes and ears to the gifts offered, and leave empty handed, no better than when they entered? Are they listening to and judging the sound of the music, ... or joining the prayer and adoration in the words of the hymn? Are they stumbling over the architecture or decoration of the building, or ... taking part in the liturgy that is church? Are they concerned about how the presider or reader says the words, or ... do they hear the words and take them to to be their own with a resounding AMEN? Do they see their presence there as an imposition in their lives, or ... an opportunity to receive God's gift and, in turn, share it with their brothers and sisters?

Many dedicated disciples of Jesus come to meetings of fellow ministry members and their talk is about their rejection. They have gifts. ... and these gifts are rejected! It is beyond their understanding. It is hard for them to accept that others do not see the jewels in their outstretched hands. The only consolation is that God has asked them to continue to offer His gifts. They will always be there, always in the outstretched hand, waiting for the ones in need to recognize the treasure there for the taking. It is the nature of God's generosity.

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