George Herbert: "The Church-porch"

Day 30: Evening

59

Reject no one's love even if it is just a small degree of liking; love is a present for a mighty king. Even more, make no one your enemy. As guns destroy so may a little sling. [Remember David and Goliath.] The cunning workman never refuses the meanest tool that he may chance to use.      We should not look down on or belittle the smallest amount of love. We hold in respect all love and regard, and respond to it with thanks and appreciation. As we nourish love and respect in others, we grow more like the divine face that is universal love. We participate in a larger community of brotherhood and fellowship with others of a loving nature. We join the family of God, who is Love. We do not engender1 hatred, even the smallest amount, because it may return to destroy us. But this is a pragmatic reason. The true reason we do not hate is that it is unpleasant, repellent to us. Gradually hatred falls away from our nature.      Just a little love and just a little hate seem too unimportant to consider. These are practical considerations not high-minded, moral issues. A little love should be encouraged to grow. It can become a genuine friendship for the rest of your life. A little hatred may do the same on the reverse side of the ledger. Deal with both when they are small and you can change them. The stone that the builders rejected serves a master craftsman. As a cunning workman, uses even the meanest tool that comes to hand to benefit all, others and himself.

FOR YOU

Go to Next Stanza

Go Back To the Index:

Go to George Herbert: "The Church-porch", Introduction

Go to George Herbert & The Temple Home Page