Reader comments
Parable: Acting part results in reflection

Beautiful story.

A perfect story to demonstrate the importance of treating people in a Christ-like way regardless of their circumstance.
PS: Is it a true story or did Orson Scott Card write it?

The heart knows what is true, thank you.

How true and sad it is that those who are totally free from the clutches of our man-made materialistic, capitalistic, "achievement" oriented culture, are often judged most harshly as wierdos and failures.

Whether this is fiction or a true account, it rings true, because we know the kind of judgment that people are too likely to pass on someone who looks different, even when the difference does not violate any explicit Church doctrine or standard.

When I was a newlywed, living in the same stake as my rather deaf grandfather, we went to a stake priesthood meeting back in early 1973. The stake president read a message from the First Presidency over the pulpit. He read it twice, so that it could not be misunderstood. He said that we were not to bar any young man from administering the Sacrament based on the length of his hair. This had been an issue in my own ward, where the bishop was also the local barber.

Well, my grandfather heard the announcement, turned to me and said, "I'm glad the Brethren have finally put their foot down to stop those long haired kids from passing the sacrament."

Isaiah and the Savior spoke of spiritual deafness and blindness. May we really see and know our neighbors, as the Savior does.

What's the name of the movie> I want to see it!

A wonderful parable for LDS, the message is similar to others I've heard in other cultures.

I agree with veedub. We all should be less judgemental. I think I have learned a lesson today.

I really enjoyed the story. I thought the secondary underlying messages were just as important as the obvious one about judgment - those of not taking offense and staying true to one's beliefs even though imperfect people misunderstand you. An important message given today's political environment.

I am less judgmental since my own son grew long hair and a beard. He is 45 years old.

A good reminder to withold judgment. I've always enjoyed OSC's writing.

However, my experience, and I dare say the experience of many others, has taught me that sudden, unexpected changes in appearance that are well outside the norm, are indicators that something has also changed internally or at least, attitudinaly. And when evasiveness about those changes accompany them, caution will often dictate withdrawal as an appropriate response at least until more information is forthcoming. So frankly, I don't think it would be inappropriate, given the circumstances in this story, for an individual to cautiously withdraw. Of course, shutting off contact completely is unwarranted. However, with the prevalance of substance abuse, pornography addiction and the terrible things that often accompany such addictions, I wouldn't blame an individual at all for withdrawing somewhat from this man. True, one may well be wrong as in this case, but again, with the presence of such evasiveness about the issue, can you really blame them?

Regardless of whether it really happened*, Mr. Card certainly wrote it. It contains his trademark compassionate insight into human motivation and behavior. Well done, Mr. Card.

I have long thought that if our indiscretions (read sins) were visible on the outside, or if they carried a distinctive odor (like tobacco), many more of us would find much less acceptance in church. I'm sorry to say that I think we, as a people (not individually), are much too judgmental-- too quick to assume that we know what makes people tick and why they do (or don't do) what they do. We have a dual injunction as Saints-- judge not (in most cases), and, when we have a particular mantle, to "judge righteous judgment." Both of those acts--not judging and judging righteously--require a thorough-going familiarity with the language of the Spirit.

Mr. Card calls for us to be more anxiously engaged in language lessons of that type--of the spirit.

Well done, Mr. Card. Thank you.

*For the record, if such a film exists (and I don't think it does), please let us know how to see it.