Esteem of Men
[Pharisees] love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Matthew 23: 6-7
Well of course they love that stuff. That stuff is heady.
I recently have had a number of dealings with some Latin Americans. Because I’m American, because I speak veddy proper Castilian, and because they are respectful people–or perhaps because they have the inner wisdom to discern my true grandeur haha– that is it no doubt – they treat me as a distinguished person. It feels good, man. Very good. It also feels just a little off. The pleasure is not altogether wholesome.
I think the only pure version of that feeling I have ever had is being a father.
There is a point to be made here about God’s glory and his fatherhood.
Bookslinger
July 5, 2022
Re that fatherhood tbing. If your children still esteem you when in their teens, you are indeed estimable.
G.
July 5, 2022
Teenagers naturally esteem their parents. Adolescent rebellion is equal parts psyop and leading symptom of a deeply broken society.
Bookslinger
July 5, 2022
That you and your forebears have avoided such pitfalls of a deeply broken society is also admirable. May the G family’s lights so shine that all who see them may say “Hey, I want some of that for me and my family too.”
Eric
July 5, 2022
As President Faust once told Elder Uchtdorf as a new general authority,
“They will treat you very kindly. They will say nice things about you. Be thankful for this. But don’t you ever inhale it.”
G
July 6, 2022
The perfect quote for this thread.