Sending Out the Snakes
Matthew 10:16
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
I have read several commentaries on this verse and most of them say that the serpent is wise in avoiding danger and the dove has a peaceful disposition. We are to combine these attributes. My take on this is different.
The serpent is wise in matters, even cunning. But, it is self-serving and dangerous. His major strategy is to attack first and ask questions later.
The dove has a purity, and even naivete about danger. In a battle between the serpent and the dove, there is little doubt of who would prevail if they were in a cage. The best the dove could do is try to avoid attack. In time, the serpent's hunger would triumph over the dove's retreat.
At my high school's graduation the other day, doves--or what appeared to be doves--were released at the end of the ceremony. Or, maybe they were white pigeon stand-ins, like stuntmen, who had the appearance of being doves. As pigeons, I suppose they could circle back after the ceremony, go back in their cages, and be released again at some other school's Graduation ceremonies.
If really doves, these birds have about as much chance as surviving as a dodo. Even the neighbor's cat could take one of them out. Being raised in captivity and being fed every day, would make them unable to cope with lives outside of the cage yard.
A lot of Graduations are dove-like and they should be, but not solely. "You can do it" kind of stuff with exhortations to give back and live a life of excellence and adventure. Yet, for a lot of students, they have heard this kind of line of thinking their whole lives.
Bill Cosby spoke at my Commencement at Temple University recently. Because of his stature and affection for Temple, he can say things at the podium that almost no other human could at Commencement. He is still quite funny which helps. He is like a crotchety grandpa who will say anything he damn well pleases.
In the midst of the dove speeches, he got up and acted the snake. He said that despite what the students heard, they could not just go out and do anything they wanted to. He spoke specifically to the "C" students, making it quite clear that their prior achievement in school predicted, in all likelihood, less stellar accomplishments in the future. He told them to pay their taxes and their loans, and hug their parents. Wise advice.
Imagine if a school at Commencement activities released serpents as well as doves. Better yet, somehow combine the best qualities of both, the smarts of the serpent with the purity of heart of the dove, while removing the bad, and then released them? Those creatures would make a difference in the world.
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
I have read several commentaries on this verse and most of them say that the serpent is wise in avoiding danger and the dove has a peaceful disposition. We are to combine these attributes. My take on this is different.
The serpent is wise in matters, even cunning. But, it is self-serving and dangerous. His major strategy is to attack first and ask questions later.
The dove has a purity, and even naivete about danger. In a battle between the serpent and the dove, there is little doubt of who would prevail if they were in a cage. The best the dove could do is try to avoid attack. In time, the serpent's hunger would triumph over the dove's retreat.
At my high school's graduation the other day, doves--or what appeared to be doves--were released at the end of the ceremony. Or, maybe they were white pigeon stand-ins, like stuntmen, who had the appearance of being doves. As pigeons, I suppose they could circle back after the ceremony, go back in their cages, and be released again at some other school's Graduation ceremonies.
If really doves, these birds have about as much chance as surviving as a dodo. Even the neighbor's cat could take one of them out. Being raised in captivity and being fed every day, would make them unable to cope with lives outside of the cage yard.
A lot of Graduations are dove-like and they should be, but not solely. "You can do it" kind of stuff with exhortations to give back and live a life of excellence and adventure. Yet, for a lot of students, they have heard this kind of line of thinking their whole lives.
Bill Cosby spoke at my Commencement at Temple University recently. Because of his stature and affection for Temple, he can say things at the podium that almost no other human could at Commencement. He is still quite funny which helps. He is like a crotchety grandpa who will say anything he damn well pleases.
In the midst of the dove speeches, he got up and acted the snake. He said that despite what the students heard, they could not just go out and do anything they wanted to. He spoke specifically to the "C" students, making it quite clear that their prior achievement in school predicted, in all likelihood, less stellar accomplishments in the future. He told them to pay their taxes and their loans, and hug their parents. Wise advice.
Imagine if a school at Commencement activities released serpents as well as doves. Better yet, somehow combine the best qualities of both, the smarts of the serpent with the purity of heart of the dove, while removing the bad, and then released them? Those creatures would make a difference in the world.
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