July 13, 2006
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Here's a puzzler for us:
Prov 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Since I don't like wounds, and I love kisses, who am I likely to get close to? Since a true friend wants what's best from me, and an enemy actually wants what's worst for me, it looks like I'd best be open to wounds, and afraid of kisses.
Hmmm.
Comments (7)
that is an interesting excerpt - don't think I remember ever reading that one. Food for thought
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ryc: about the poem - no, it's not my experience, my sisters best friend Mark, died of AIDS back in 1996 - can't believe it's been so long. I'm sure there are some different opinions of it now then there were then, but this poem is just witness to the way that we judge people (even as they are reaching out for help) we don't even know based on truths we've created in our heads.
I am wondering with all your "debunking" of pseudoscience
if you'd put psychiatry and psychology in that category as Tom Cruise did/does? Did you ever see his interview on the today show with Matt Lauer re: anti-depressants? I'm curious about your thoughts on this.
Proverbs has always been my favorite book of the Bible (Pr.17:17 is, of course, my favorite verse), so when I came across this one, I have to admit I scratched my head at first. I guess the problem for me was that I know friends who have betrayed their friends, so how could those wounds be trusted? Of course, those friends weren't really friends but enemies in disguise, especially if they were able to turn on their friends. In the long run, I'd rather a true friend tell me something I don't want to hear than to have an "enemy" flatter me about how smart I am or how right I was to act wrongly in a situation. Wounds from TRUE friends may be trusted, while wounds from a false friend whom you trusted hurt like crazy.
RYC, I answered your three questions.
Regarding that Proverb, we might want to figure out what a wound from a friend would look like. A friend would love us, and if they spoke anything that hurt us, it would be from a motive of love. When I get corrected by Pastor Don, my husband or a friend it is wounding, wounding of pride, wounding of feelings at times, but ultimately there is a good outcome. Far better than lots of kisses from a false person - who will be sweet to your face and back bite or hurt you given a chance. I have never felt comfortable around those who are insincere and try to seem so sweet.
Heather
Well said.
Hi.
ryc: i noticed upon re-reading your comment that you thought my question about child abuse to be "sharp" I hope I didn't offend you or sound harsh - I'm just of the opinion that it's better to be straightforward with what we say and/or ask then it is to beat around the bush. So... I meant no harm
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oh good - I'm glad I misunderstood the "sharp" thing
. It's hard on e-mail to tell sometimes, isn't it? especially when you're talking with someone you don't know.
So I see you are a pastor - may I be so nosy as to ask to what denomination you belong?
thanks for the 2 cents. i have 2 kids of my own and i'm completely with you on the pro-life thing. Regarding the bible reference, doesn't the New Testament's command to "love one another" negate the Old Testaments "an eye for an eye?"
"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind" - Mahatma Gandhi
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