'Was there nothing worth fighting for?'

[question everything]

From a Rosh HaShanah sermon:

In apartheid South Africa there’s a story about a white teacher who actually decides that his school of all-white students is going to play hockey with an all-black school. His name is Robert Mansfield and he did this until his Board of Education told him he could no longer do it.

So Mansfield resigns in protest. Emanuel Nene is a leader of the black community is apartheid South Africa at the time, and he goes and seeks out Mansfield and he says to him, “I want to meet the man who doesn’t want to prevent children from playing with each other. I want to join you in your fight.” And Mansfield responds, “You’re going to get wounded.” And Nene responds, “I don’t care about the wounds, because when I get up there -- and I am going to get up into the heavens – the holy one will ask me, ‘Where are your wounds?’ And if I say I have none, then the holy one will respond, ‘Was there nothing worth fighting for?’ And I cannot answer that question.” That’s what’s being asked of us today. Is there something worth fighting for? Where are our wounds?

[Karadeniz]

1. That is so good! Thanks!❤ I had a similar, but not nearly so poignant, viewpoint. As an animal

Rescuer, I gave up ages ago ever having decent hands or nails. Between medicated shampoos, bleaching, washing bowls, and having to file down my torn nails every day, I couldn't be bothered with lotions or nail polish. But I try to look at things from heaven's viewpoint instead of society's. Instead of "Dallas hands," I'd present my hands, ruined by helping the helpless, to heaven and I know heaven will think I made the right choice.