Roper wrote:

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Paraphrasing James Allen-
We don't see the world as it really is, we see the world as we are.

My observation:
Sometimes a person becomes painfully aware of a weakness.  But instead of turning to Christ for grace and strength, the person begins seeking evidence of that weakness in another person.

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IMO, you see this behavior even if the person isn't aware of their weakness.

It's interesting to hear people speculate about the motives of others.  The reasoning people assign to other people tends to be a blend of their own reasoning, and the percieved reasoning of those around them.  I'm of the opinion that character flaws and strengths can be revealed by listening to people opine about what drives other people. 

I'm not particularly sure this always extends to listening to people opine about President Bush.  There can't be that many totally morally bankrupt evil self-serving devil people out there.

HSR

Roper wrote:

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A few years ago, as I responded to my Bishop's questions during a recommend interview, my Bishop paused for a moment and said, "You know what I heard about you the other day?"

I felt shocked and deeply hurt.  Not because of the rumor--I'd heard it before from other sources.  I just couldn't believe that a person would take it upon himself to inform my Bishop with the implication that I shouldn't receive a temple recommend.  Is that really what my brothers and sisters in my stake think about me?  I immediately knew the source of the gossip:  The person had the exact weakness I was falsely accused of.

My Bishop continued, "You know what I said?  I said, 'That's not the Roper I know.'"  There's a wealth of wisdom in that response to gossip.  Thank you, Bishop.

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How sad.  It seems like every ward has a couple busy bodies.  It takes a lot of gall to go up to a Bishop with rumor to get someone denied a temple recommend.

That roper couldn't really throw a lasso...
That roper was actually just a string, or was actually a chain...
That roper did not actually carry a resemblance to Chuck Norris...

Actually, as he said, there is a wealth of wisdom in avoiding gossip...

Am I the only one that finds it weird that the Bishop even brought it up? Why it didn't "die" with him is a mystery to me.

Maybe the Bishop thought he was giving a head's up so Roper could not get hit blindsided without some pre-emptive damage control?

Well... Bishops is people too.

Seems to be at least an occasional problem.  A few years ago when I was branch president, Member A complained to me 3 times, the 3rd time very bitterly, that Member B was faking a medical problem, and thereby living off the government welfare system.  I already knew member A was doing the exact same thing, and also realized that he could have no way of knowing anything about Member B's health problems.  After his 3rd attempt as slander I discussed the matter with Member B, who gave me a copy of his health record, and with the help of my wife who had been a nurse in that country and knew the medical terms, determined that Member B's condition was legit.  I confronted member A with my findings, and advised the stake presidency of what I considered an attempt at character defamation.  I think Member A was mad mostly because I had called Member B to be branch clerk, while Member A, who coveted position of authority in church, had been released as branch president for cause.   

(I've told this story online before...)

I have a good friend who was the victim of gossip while on his mission. it's a great story, but really sad. It happened within the first few months of his mission too. He even believes he knows how it started, he'd used a member's restroom and when he came out of the restroom there was a teenage daughter of the family coming down the hall from another room, so they came into the living room laughing and talking together. His companion and him had problems getting along, and apparently his companion assumed they were doing horrible things together in the other room in the minute he'd slipped away to use the restroom.

He became known throughout the whole mission "that Elder". The one that had to be watched. Every zone conference he would meet with his Mission President who'd heard these rumors (which seemed to grow as time passed) and was asked very pointed questions about the law of chastity, his behavior and so forth... this was constant, but my friend just assumed it was normal. Looking back he wondered why his mission president reserved an hour for him, while all the other elders talked with the president for only five minutes. He continued to serve mostly in junior companion capacity most of his mission, trying his best, unaware that everywhere he went, an avalanche of innuendo was building around him.

On his exit interview his mission president finally asked him outright if the many rumors (and he related a whole slew of them) were true. My friend was utterly horrified. He told his mission president that they were not. The mission president nonchaulantly said, "Hm. That's too bad. We could've used you in some leadership positions."

--Ray

Sheesh, ray, that's a terrible story. I guess in a case like that, the Priesthood leader should just get things out in the open so he's better informed instead of relying on rumors for his inspiration.

I think that sometimes we can't even tell the difference in ourselves. We flirted awhile back with talking about "self deception" and what that means. I think most if not all of us walk around with beams in our eyes, and don't know it.

rayb wrote:

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On his exit interview his mission president finally asked him outright if the many rumors (and he related a whole slew of them) were true. My friend was utterly horrified. He told his mission president that they were not. The mission president nonchaulantly said, "Hm. That's too bad. We could've used you in some leadership positions."

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"If you ever expect man to act like anything other than man, you will be dissapointed every time." 
  - wise words from Mrs. HSR

I've got so many beams in my eyes, I drive a beamer... to attract a clientelle! ;)

Oh wait... I really just drive a minivan. :)

--Ray

PS> Coco, yeah, sux to be my friend... but hey, he still goes to church... so good for him.

Would it really get filtered if I said my youngest sucks his own toes?

ETA: Guess not. I simply must work on my ability to know when people are teasing. Because it sucks that I can't tell.

-- Edited by hiccups at 14:18, 2007-07-10

It seems to allow me to use that word. Maybe it's just special for you, Coco.

Cat Herder wrote:

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R&D is working on a Hiccups-avatorial mk VI Transponder that will provide adequate response to pictures of rear sniffin' elks...

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:rotf: Maybe roses or donuts or something else that smells good?