Disputes
AM Psalm 87, 90 • PM Psalm 136
Gen. 29:1-20 • Rom. 14:1-23 • John 8:47-59
“Libraries are the wardrobes of literature.”
I went into the library here at Butterfield. It is a small library, of one room, but a miracle none the less. Two women, volunteers I assumed, were sorting the books as to whether they had been checked out, how often, and how long ago, because more space was needed.
And I thought, “I hate to see those books go out. I know much more about what should be done, which books should be saved or weaned from the collection than they do.”
Yet, I was not a librarian. But I had to bite my tongue not to say, “But what if the books you are discarding are very good even if no one has read them? No one at all?” I had written a book or two and those books were here in this library. Furthermore, I doubted they were being read.
But before I said anything I told them, “My husband was Dean of Libraries at the University,” because I wanted to be right. I had never had the job of deciding which books to keep in a library myself. But perhaps, I was a little sensitive.
Thank goodness I did not say any more. But I had to remove myself and leave.
Romans 14, one of our readings for today, reads: One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of a brother. … For the Kingdom of God means righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit … Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
So I got up, quietly, and left without saying anything more.
Written by Rebecca Newth
Rebecca Newth sings in the choir and is a lay reader.