This epitaph was written on a grave marker in Scotland and has influenced many, including me. It has caused me to ponder my role in life and forced me repeatedly to ask myself if I am living up to what is expected of me by my God and by those who depend upon me. Have I acted with soundness of character and integrity to my many roles—Christian disciple, husband, father, son and brother, American citizen, teacher, neighbor, friend?
I have concluded that it is good advice. There is a caveat, however—there is always a caveat. It is that we must choose our parts carefully.
In Bavaria Germany, this year, is the famous Oberammergau Passion Play, performed generally only once every ten years since 1634. Approximately one-half of the village’s 5,400 residents participate in the depiction of Christ’s last week of mortality. Each person has a part, including those of Jesus, Mary, and the apostles including Judas Iscariot.
The players, all laypeople of the village, are to so immerse themselves in their roles that they ‘become’ the person they are depicting so as to be thoroughly believable. You can see where this might lead—especially for the man who takes the part of Judas Iscariot.
It has been reported that three of the more recent ‘Judas’s’ have committed suicide.
6 comments:
Hi Ron, My oldest son Jamie served his mission in Scotland, and actually stood at the building with this epithet written on the marquee. I believe the then Elder David O. Mckay stayed in that building. At any rate, I have a Scottish Mission tie received when we journeyed to Scotland and toured the countryside with Jamie. It has incscribed upon it this very saying and it is a prize possession of mine. It was in fact the motto for the entire Mission and Jamie did, and does indeed,'act well his part'.
Dave Shipley
Very good advise! Glad to see you are the same Elder Grandfather Miller that I looked up to in Samoa!
"Have I acted with soundness of character and integrity to my many roles—Christian disciple, husband, father, son and brother, American citizen, teacher, neighbor, friend?"
Yes! I can certify that. Ron I have known you for many years and I can share the story of our first meeting.
It was on Sunday, Sept. 17, 1989. I had arrived in the US from Israel for a post-doc at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey CA four days before that with my wife, two kids (2 years and 6 months old) and a small dog. We bought a car in LA and drove to Monterey with all the family and luggage.
The car broke down on highway 68 down 10 miles from Monterey. It was my first time in the US, I knew nobody, there were no cell phones at that time and I had no road insurance. We just stood there, we didn't know what to do. Many cars passed by and nobody helped.
Suddenly, a brown van, with several kids inside, stopped at the other side of the road. It was Ron and Karen, Ron's late wife. He tried to fix the problem but no success. He drove home, called someone to tow the car and came back with his van and took us all to our hotel.
It was the beginning of a friendship.
We have met several times since then in various occasions. I will never forget that incident and the unexpected help we received.
I know that his greatest honor is being a real human!
Benny Natan
Someone plays satan in a few temples on a daily basis. Maybe it is the type of person who signs up for Judas in these plays.
Thanks Dave,Michael and Kelli, Benny and Charmaine for your kindnesses and comments.
Ron, I found your blog at my Dad's this week. Man, you are a great writer!
The stone with that saying has nine squares. Each square has a symbol that represents a number. The numbers, when added up in any direction, like tic tac toe, equal the same: 18 if I remember correctly.
Wherever you are on the grid, do your part to equal the whole.
see our blog at www.jamieandanitashipley.blogspot.com.
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