Sticks and Stones, A Novel of Life’s Trials

Posted on December 5, 2013 by kandpthrock

The time for the publication of my new novel, Sticks and Stones, A Novel of Life’s Trials, is rapidly approaching. The front cover has been designed and currently we are at the layout stage. There are two phases to this: production and proofing. In the production process my manuscript will transition to the actual book! By early January I should have the text in my hand to proof for the final time before production.

This fictionalized biography will be interesting to those who have experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse as a child. You will be able to walk in Kathleen’s shoes over more than seven decades. There are some painful realities that encompass age old issues. I believe you will find this one eye-opening read and hopefully some may even be inspired by it.

To quote the editor of my manuscript, “Your story presents to your readers an inspiration to remain steadfast and faithful amidst all the difficulties they might encounter in their lives. Kathleen’s character is truly an inspiring persona, an epitome of how the tests of time help polish people into becoming what God has planned them to be.”

Watch for the release of Sticks and Stones, A Novel of Life’s Trials by Patricia Throckmorton published by Tate Publishing Company.

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Prince of Peace

Posted on December 5, 2013 by kandpthrock

 

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Seven hundred years before His birth, Isaiah predicted His coming.  The verbal description in the aforementioned verse leaves no doubt he is speaking of Jesus Christ, our redeemer.  Feel the power connected with those words, all in capital letters: Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace!

“For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood, but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.”  Isaiah 9:5 KJV

Matthew Henry wrote, “Christ broke the yoke of ceremonial law and delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, that we might serve him without fear.  This is done by the Spirit working like fire, not as the battle of the warrior is fought, with confused noise, but it is done with the Spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, by a work of God upon the hearts of men.”

As we approach the season of the birth of Christ, let us reflect on the terms Isaiah used to introduce Him.  Wonderful: fantastic, tremendous, wondrous, extraordinarily good or great.  Counselor: advocate, pleader, advisor.  The Mighty God: powerful, mightily, great strength, great force, great intensity, Supreme Being, supernatural, perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe.  The Everlasting Father:  ageless, unceasing, unending, eternal, Father God, the first person in the Trinity.  The Prince of Peace:  supreme, ruler, governor, keeper, Ruler of rulers, independent, autonomous, royal, greatest in authority and power, harmonious, prosperity, contentment, tranquility, serene, peaceful.  How can we not be humbled and awed by such a description!

He preserves the peace, commands peace and is the peace within our hearts.  He is the author and giver of all good.  Bless His name.  Only when we open our hearts and allow Him full access will we come to know this peace he went to the cross for.  In all the turmoil today, especially with the raging abuse and cruelty to all the species of God’s Kingdom, if we trust the Prince of Peace, we will be assured He is in control.  It is in Jesus that we find our refuge and well-being.

John Flavel (1627-1691), an English Presbyterian minister wrote, “He is bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, a garment to the naked, healing to the wounded; and whatever a soul can desire is found in him.”

LORD, I come to you with a thankful heart for the promise of peace, for the Prince of Peace.  Spread this peace like a blanket across our hearts and nation.  Let YOUR Spirit flame in our hearts that we may change the things within that will have us connected with YOU.  In JESUS name I pray, Amen.

 

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My Daddy’s Bible

Posted on November 24, 2013 by kandpthrock

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”  2 Peter, 1:20-21 KJV

The prophecies of the scripture are not that of private opinion.  These prophecies are Spirit-filled, infused with the mightiness of God.  The writers were supernaturally influenced by the Holy Spirit to convey His message.  This influence did not exist in nature; it was not physical or material.  It was prompted by God.

I inherited my daddy’s Bible from my mother after she passed away.  It is not as heavy or as large as I remembered it as a child.  Even before I learned to read I would study the pages and wonder at the pencil marks in the margins that Daddy put there.  I was intrigued by some of the art work scattered sparsely throughout.  There were copies of paintings by fifteenth through eighteenth century artists. In the book of Genesis there is a painting of Cain fleeing after murdering his brother Abel.  I searched on line for the artist Pierre Paul Prud’hon, and found the exact same painting titled (in 1808) Justice and Divine Vengeance Pursuing Crime. 

Another painting, especially touching, is one of Mary, the mother of Jesus, greeting her cousin Elizabeth titled Visitation.  It was painted in 1491 by Domenico Ghirlandaio.  Wikipedia describes the painting: “The Visitation episode refers to the meeting between Mary and St. Elizabeth. It was set by Ghirlandaio with a large classical arch in the background featuring a landscape in the center. Elizabeth, wearing a wide yellow vest, is paying homage to Mary and kneeling.  [There are] numerous details, including the refraction effects of the light. Others include: the frieze decorated with pearls and shells (allusions to Mary’s purity), the light veil of the Madonna, the gilt brooch decorated with pearls and a ruby in the center (this [was] a hint to Jesus’ future Passion) which holds her cloak.”

I have no way of knowing the age of Daddy’s Bible however the copyright year is 1924, the year before my parents were married.  I do know from my earliest memory it was always on the small table by Daddy’s chair.  Although I study from various versions of the Bible it is the King James that is so dear to my heart.  This is the only Bible I knew as a child.  I remember vividly Daddy sitting in his chair in the evenings by an oil burning lamp, reading quietly and intently from this Book.   Today, this Bible is in ill repair; not from abuse but from use.  The front cover and several of the first pages have long since been separated from the rest of the Book.  The gilded edges of the pages have faded but the red lettering of Jesus’ words are still just as intense as they were in the days of old.

The King James and newer versions differ somewhat with types such as the New International Version (NIV) omitting some verses.  For example, in Acts chapter eight there is no verse 37 in the NIV; likewise in Romans chapter eleven there is no verse six.  Compare Mark 10:24 of the KJV to the same in the NIV.  “The disciples were amazed at his words.  But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” (NIV.)  Whereas, in the KJV it is written: “And the disciples were astonished at his word.  But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”  And yes, Jesus’ words are in red lettering.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 KJV

“For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12 NIV

I am sure Daddy would agree with Martin Luther who said, “Infinite potentates have raged against this book [the Bible], and sought to destroy and uproot it – King Alexander the Great, the princes of Egypt and of Babylon, the monarchs of Persia, of Greece, and of Rome, the emperors Julius and Augustus – but nothing prevailed; they are all gone and vanished, while the book remains.”  Parrish and Andrea, my two children will have to share custody of Daddy’s Bible, I suppose.

LORD, teach me to understand and live by YOUR Word.  For the things I do not understand, teach me to accept.  YOU and only YOU breathed inspiration into the writers of YOUR infinite Word.  Lord I do accept the Bible as the true truth and I am eternally grateful for YOUR direction.  In JESUS name I pray.  Amen.

 

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Gratitude

Posted on November 23, 2013 by kandpthrock

 

“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.  For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.  The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.  O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” Psalm 95:1-6 KJV

The scripture says make a joyful noise; being filled with spiritual joy!  We are to worship and bow down to Him; be in awe of Him.  The sacred texts of the Psalms, although written 1400 – 430 B.C., ring as true today as they did those many centuries ago.  My prayers should commence with praise and thanksgiving to my maker for His goodness.  As a child growing up in the Methodist church, I was required to learn and recite the 100th Psalm.  In recollection, we children played a significant role in the church sixty-seventy years ago.  I am unable to recall the frequency however, if memory serves me correctly, we offered a program before the congregation quite often.  There are lots of powerful memories associated with the following Psalm.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.  Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  Know ye that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”  Psalm 100 KJV

God formed our bodies and fathered our spirits.  To Him we owe the ultimate praise, in a joyful presence of mind.  Without Him we would not be; we are not our own, but His.  As I approach this season of Thanksgiving I will focus on His goodness and His greatness.  What if God only gave us what we thanked him for?  It is something to think about.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:15-16 NIV

While under house arrest in Rome the apostle Paul wrote the foregoing verses to the people of Colosse.  The same can be transposed to the people of America this day.  What better time than this very moment to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and overflow to others.  How richly fulfilled our lives would be if we could approach all things with thanksgiving and gratitude.

Dr. Donald McCall Brunson, a Baptist minister wrote in his book The Miracle You’ve Been Searching For, “I believe that when we are in the midst of even the worst life storms, our reaction as children of the King should be to thank God, for it may be that He allowed the very trauma we’re going through at the moment for the purpose of preventing us from going through storms that might well destroy us or hinder us in doing what He has called us to do.”  I agree with Dr. Brunson. I do admit that emotional pain may cloud my judgment of conviction and that is when I must concentrate my whole being on the Lord.

Lord, I thank YOU for creating me in YOUR image.  I thank YOU for YOUR goodness and YOUR greatness. I am weak Lord and lean on YOU for strength of spirit and heart and soul.  I give thanks to YOU for all things, always.  In JESUS name I pray, Amen.

 

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The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth

Posted on November 21, 2013 by kandpthrock

 

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 NKJV

But what is the truth?  Merriam-Webster defines truth as fidelity, constancy; sincerity in action, character, and utterance.  The psalmist said in 5:9 KJV, “For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue.”  In other words, there is no truth in spoken word or behavior.  Then David describes one who can walk righteously with the Lord is one that “…walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”  Psalm 15:2 KJV. 

Just as recent as yesterday I read where a large chain warehouse store has labeled all its Bibles in the genre fiction.  It wasn’t clear whether the Bibles were in the actual Fiction area or in the Religion area where all books were displayed.  The disturbing aspect is that the Bible was labeled fiction at all.  Human error?  Maybe.  As Christians we know truth is a fundamental characteristic of God. 

Another story on the news told of a Methodist minister who has been suspended for thirty days because he performed a same sex marriage between his son and another man.  He was told he must surrender his credentials if he cannot conform to the Methodist doctrine.  The minister said the Old Testament is outdated and he will not be silent on his views of supporting gays and lesbians.  That is his right.  In our great country where freedom still reigns, one is allowed to believe and to speak what one accepts to be true.  This is an individual choice.  If I believe the Bible, in its entirety is the Truth, subsequently I cannot pick and choose a concept to keep and another to discard as outdated.  Again that is my right and a personal choice.  To me the Old Testament is still God’s Law and lays the foundation for the coming of the Messiah. 

Then comes Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians about silencing women in church.  “Women should remain silent in the churches.  They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.  If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 NIV

There is a multitude of dialogue explaining away why Paul taught this, some even saying it is not Paul’s writing at all.  Should we regress to the time when women were to remain silent in church?  Theologian I am not.  As much as I read and study the Bible, I still am filled with questions.  For my peace of mind I must fall back on the Scripture’s that bring me comfort, knowing I am not supposed to understand it all.

“And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.’” Matthew 22:16 ESV 

Matthew Henry said, “Jesus Christ was a faithful Teacher and the Truth itself.  Jesus showed people the right way in which they should go; that He was a skillful Teacher and knew the way of God and would surely let us know it.  This is the character of a good teacher, to preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and not to suppress, pervert, or stretch any truth for favor, hatred or good will, either out of a desire to please, or a fear to offend any man.”

LORD, I have the questions and YOU hold the answers.  I have the moment and YOU hold the eternity.  I want to live by YOUR Word; I pray for harmony in relationships.  My earnest prayer is that I am able to live my days in truth to YOUR Word as best I am able to understand it.  I thank YOU LORD, for the Bible and the gift of YOUR Word.  In JESUS name I pray.  Amen.

 

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The Value of a Soul

Posted on November 20, 2013 by kandpthrock

 “But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Deuteronomy 4:29 NKJV

My soul is that inanimate essence that makes me uniquely me.  It is this that causes me to seek the Lord.  And with all my heart and all my soul I do yearn after Him.  It is my belief that a soul is eternal, that it is immortal and never dies.  It is that which departs my body as I cease to breathe and my heart no longer beats. King David said in Psalm 42:2 NKJV, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

“But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Joshua 22:5 NKJV.  As hard as I try, I do backslide to Satan’s temptations.  But the gift of God’s grace lifts me up again.

Webster’s New World college dictionary defines the word soul as an entity which is regarded as being the immortal or spiritual part of the person and, though having no physical or material reality, is credited with the functions of thinking and willing, and hence determining all behavior; the moral or emotional nature of a human being.

As a child, one of the first Bible passages I ever remember memorizing was the Twenty-third Psalm.  “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:2-3a NKJV.   The Lord provides rest, renews and restores my being, my soul.  The immaterial essence of a human being, the very heart and core of a person is his soul.  As DNA is the substance of our genes so the soul, I believe, is the center of our morality and judgment.  This is the center of our being, our conscience.  Matthew Henry said the body is but a tabernacle, or tent, of the soul.

“And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation.”  Psalm 35:9 NKJV.  He provides me spiritual care and fills my soul with joy.  He is the ultimate Shepherd of our soul.  It is our soul that is of value to Him!  Not our physical body or physique, not our shape or build; rather it is the quality of our soul that is desirable and valuable to the Lord.  Because of my soul, that mystery that defies science, I am able to have a spiritual communion with God through Jesus Christ.  We can practice the exercise of good judgment or common sense in all matters and become wiser; however, it takes a long time to grow wisdom.

The disciple Mark quoted Jesus as saying, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36 KJV.  Forget the ego-driven desire to own things.  Reach for and focus on the abundance of life around you; God’s magnificent creation.  Refresh your soul in all of God’s glory.  Tell your mind to stop and just listen to your soul.  When you nurture your soul you will find more joy in your life.  You will feel it and your family, friends, and associates will notice it as well.

John Flavel, a sixteenth century English Presbyterian clergyman, puritan and author wrote, “The soul of a man, like the bird in the shell, is still growing or ripening in sin or grace, till at last the shell breaks by death, and the soul flies away to the peace it is prepared for, and where it must abide for ever.”

LORD, lead me away from the sinful and worldly works of these times.  Give me insight and wisdom to make decisions that are pleasing to YOU.  Guide my steps that they may take me closer to YOU.  LORD I thank YOU for YOUR sacrifice for my sins and for the salvation of my soul.  In JESUS name I pray, Amen.

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A Contentious Spirit

Posted on November 10, 2013 by kandpthrock

 

“As coals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.”  Proverbs 26:21 KJV

I awakened sometime during the night last night and the word contentious just jumped right out of my head.  It brought to mind my mother, who was famous for saying, “Oh, those contentious people!” when discord erupted.  I don’t hear that word used often these days nonetheless, contentiousness is still alive and well.  Contentious means being quarrelsome, argumentative, belligerent.  Merriam-Webster defines the word as exhibiting an often perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and disputes.

Habakkuk (chapter 1 verse 3 KJV) asked God, “Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.”  This prophet, in his great debate with God questioned the morally objectionable behavior, the absence of moral or spiritual values and the injustice and contentiousness in practice in Judah.  This can certainly parallel the behavior across our country today.  We may struggle to understand just as Habakkuk did but it is not ours to understand it all but to believe God is in control and will be our avenger.

Put contentiousness on a more personal level.  The failing economy has left many individuals and families in dire straits.  Many have lost their homes, bills have piled up, life-styles have been altered; worry, anxiety and fear have replaced the easy-going every day.  Contentious spirits ensue.  There is a marked dissimilarity between having a difference of opinion and that which manifests a contentious spirit.  Contentiousness is negative, mean spirited and filled with pride and arrogance.  Contentiousness threatens the very core of any and all relationships.

How wearisome it is to live in an atmosphere of endless controversy, relentless bickering.  This is the time to go into your closet and pray, earnestly, for direction.  It is easy for us to recognize a contentious spirit in those around us yet we deny we may harbor those same behaviors within.  What an ill turn of events when we begin to tear down relationships of those we love.  If only we could follow the teachings of the Apostle Paul.

“Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  Romans 12:9-12. NIV

It is a challenge for us to overcome our natural inclinations and reactions to disagreements.  What a breeding ground this creates for Satan.  Be joyful, patient and faithful said the Apostle.  Our lesson here then is to apply this to the daily turmoil we are hurled into. The life we live with a contentious spirit serves Satan.  The peaceful life we live is the by-product of the way in which we serve God.

LORD, remove any selfish notions I may harbor in my heart, knowingly or unknowingly.  Create in me a true, selfless love for all mankind, friend and foe alike.  Mold me LORD into a model of peace, understanding and love.  To YOU I give praise and thanksgiving.  In JESUS name I pray, Amen.

 

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Parsimony

Posted on November 9, 2013 by kandpthrock

“Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies.”  Proverbs 23:6 NIV

I consider myself well-read even though I stumble across new words daily.  My new word today is parsimony and I am sure I have never seen that word before.  The freedictionary.com web site defines parsimony as “unusual or excessive frugality; extreme economy or stinginess.”  Did you ever ask someone to help you with a project resulting in his manner and attitude only making you miserable because of his stingy nature?  You will most likely be hesitant to ask that person for help again thus a stingy person’s moral and social health may be compromised.  The verse above clearly steers us away from a stingy man.

Maybe you have been associated with someone who continually borrows ordinary everyday items – too stingy to purchase their own.  Perhaps you have a friend or colleague who takes advantage of your generous nature allowing you to spot them for a soda or sandwich or even lunch too often.  This wears thin on relationships.

Along the same school of thought, the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy in this way.  “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share.” 1 Timothy 6:17-18. NIV

So it is best to not be so tight-fisted with what we have as everything is on loan to us from God.  We must be good and do good and share it all with a charitable heart.  One of the best examples of stingy I can think of is the character Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol.  Ebenezer was tight-fisted, stingy, greedy and cold-hearted.  He despised anything that brought happiness to others.  What a transformation erupted after he was visited by the Three Ghosts of Christmas.  The story is quite an exaggeration in extremes and does a fantastic job in depicting the contrast between stingy versus generosity.

Stingy, greed, hoarding, refusing to share to me represent a hole in someone’s character; a hole that is ever empty.  Maybe this is the result of a lack of an authentic spiritual foundation or lack of genuine compassion.  Being stingy with your time, resources and talents signals a core base of total selfishness.  God wants us to enjoy His blessings and he wants us to use those blessings to make a difference in the world around us. 

LORD, instill in me the desire to give generously of every gift YOU have given me.  Open my heart and eyes to see and respond to the needs of others.  I am blessed with more than enough and to YOU I give the praise.  In JESUS name I pray, Amen.

 

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The Meaning of Life

Posted on November 7, 2013 by kandpthrock

 

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter; fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV

Out of matter arose life; out of life arose mind then followed heart and soul and love although not necessarily in that particular order.  What a sad state of affairs should we have no profound interest that would demand our attention.  Fear God… in other words be in awe of, be in reverence of God our maker.  This verse is not unlike an epilogue to any book, reflecting on the whole of the contents, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion…”

“…the whole duty of man.”  My attention is drawn to the cells that comprise our being.  At first inspection an individual cell may be isolated and studied.  However, a cell does not stand alone and is dependent on a multiplicity of cells to create a complete being.  Thus the whole duty of man, every thought, idea, motive, every cell is to be in admiration and wonderment of God.

Am I living my life to its fullest meaning?  Am I content and happy, absent of anger?  Do I practice spiritual discipline?  Do I have compassion for man?  Am I non-coveting of all things?  Do I worship the one and only God?  If I am able to answer yes, in honesty, to these questions then I am living my life in completeness.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

We must prefer God before ourselves seeking glory for Him, not for ourselves.  The great, great Billy Graham said, “If anything has been accomplished through my life, it has been solely God’s doing, not mine, and He – not I – must get the credit.”

LORD, keep my heart turned toward the MASTER; keep my actions in line with my heart.  Keep my face turned toward YOU.  Give me the wherewithal to keep Satan’s graffiti at bay.  In JESUS name I pray, Amen.

 

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The Religion of Man

Posted on November 6, 2013 by kandpthrock

Rabindranath Tagore, born in 1861 was one of India’s greatest religious thinkers. When he was fifty he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature then England knighted him two years later. His concept was that the various religions of humankind “are evolving expressions of the one Religion of Humanity, an eternal essence that lies within and beyond humanity’s historical religions, drawing the human family steadily forward toward greater and richer realizations of unity, love and freedom.”

I am fascinated with his writings and his uncaged spirit. You too, may enjoy the following excerpt from The Religion of Man.

“When I was a child I had the freedom to make my own toys out of trifles and create my own games from imagination. In my happiness my playmates had their full share, in fact the complete enjoyment of my games depended upon their taking part in them. One day, in this paradise of our childhood, entered the temptation from the market world of the adult. A toy brought from an English shop was given to one of our companions; it was perfect, it was big and wonderfully lifelike. He became proud of the toy and less mindful of the game; he kept that expensive thing carefully away from us, glorying in his exclusive possession of it, feeling himself superior to his playmates whose toys were cheap. I am sure if he could use the modern language of history he would say that he was more civilized than ourselves to the extent of his owning that ridiculously perfect toy.

One thing he failed to realize in his excitement – a fact which at the moment seemed to him insignificant – that this temptation obscured something a great deal more perfect than his toy, the revelation of the perfect child which ever dwells in the heart of man, in other words, the dharma of the child. The toy merely expressed his wealth but not himself, nor the child’s creative spirit, not the child’s generous joy in his play, his identification of himself with others who were his compeers in his play world. Civilization is to express Man’s dharma and not merely his cleverness, power and possession.”

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