Breathe Series

Hello readers and visitors,

Once more you’re welcome to another write-up that I believe will be useful to us all. Life is beautiful; our greed sometimes causes us unnecessary anguish. I hope the vital lessons could be garnered in these write-ups so that we can have the best life possible. So, cheers and have a good reading.

KING RAT

James 5:1-6 (NIV). Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the mystery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rutted…. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your field and cried out against you…. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

Have you ever the film King Rat, in which the main character, a Second World War American soldier, is brilliantly played by George Segal? Segal’s anti-hero, a resourceful but amoral wheeler and dealer, finds himself incarcerated in a Japanese prison camp, and becomes the wealthiest man in the camp through buying and selling and scrounging and stealing. Unburdened by scruples (British officers buy rat meat from him, and cheerfully eat it believing it to be squirrel), he rapidly achieved a position of dominance living in comparative luxury, dispensing or withholding favours according to the profit involved.

Particularly memorable is the scene where Segal fries eggs before someone who has something he wants. The staring, lip-licking agony of this man who hasn’t seen an egg for two years is painful to behold.

There is no doubt that, as far as the small world of that camp is concerned, and the small group of henchmen who defend and assist him in exchange for whatever scraps he throws at them, he is King Rat, the richest, most powerful man in the community.

The eventual liberation of the camp by allied troops corresponds to the picture drawn by James in this passage. Suddenly, the carefully hoarded supplies of food and bargaining items are worthless. Those who followed the ‘King’ in return for crusts are anxious not to be associated with him, especially as there is a strong indication that Segal’s uniquely well-fed, healthy physical condition will result in investigation and punishment. The film ends with ‘King Rat’ isolated at the centre of the compound that, only yesterday, he ruled. If he had helped others in that little world he might have been a hero in the next. Instead, he is an outcast.

-Adrian Plass, When You Walk


THE HUSBAND STORE

A store that sells husbands has just opened in NewYork City, where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates. You may visit the store ONLY ONCE!

There are six floors and the attributes of the men increase as the shopper ascends the flight. There is, however, a catch… You may choose any man from a particular floor, or you may choose to go up a floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband.

On the first floor the sign on the door reads:
Floor 1 – These men have jobs and love the Lord.

The second floor sign reads:
Floor 2 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids.

The third floor sign reads:
Floor 3 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, and are extremely good looking.

“Wow”, she thinks, but FEELS COMPELLED to keep going.
She goes to the fourth floor and sign reads:

Floor 4 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, and drop-dead good looking and help with the house work.

“Oh mercy me!” she exclaims, “I can hardly stand it!” Still she goes to the fifth floor and sign reads:
Floor 5 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop-dead gorgeous, help with the house work, and have a strong romantic streak.

She is so TEMPTED to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign reads:
Floor 6 – You are visitor 4,363,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are IMPOSSIBLE to please.

Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store. Watch your step as you exit the building, and have a nice day!

Now, now, now...it is obvious that "Houston, we have a problem" can be heared loud and clear. I'm not a Mr. Moralist but i believe over 90% of our challenges and conflict stem in from Mr. SELF" wouldn't you agree? Drop me a note and let me know what you think. Cioa.