Two Great Men

These two great men have influenced history. They were born centuries apart, yet both have similarities that made them different from other people. They are Jesus and Gandhi.

Both wore similar clothing, loose garments and sandals. In fact, Gandhi wove his own cloth. Contrast this with the “dress for success” attitude we have today. We work hard to have a “look”. These two men didn’t.

We don’t really know what Jesus looked like. Films usually portray him as being handsome. Gandhi was far from the dashing figure that women would swoon over.

They used simple methods when teaching. They didn’t use multimedia presentations. They didn’t lecture in universities. They mainly talked to people. Scribes tended to write down what they said instead of their writing books.

Both of them were all about truth and loving your enemy. Gandhi refused to press charges against a white mob that tried to lynch him. Those in authority did not like the message of either man. Social injustice was high on their agendas.

Both of them didn’t really perform the job they were trained to do. It is said that Jesus was a carpenter. Gandhi was a lawyer. Both spent most of their time working on causes they believed in.

And they both had people follow them because of what they believed in. They were not influenced by what others thought. They did what they believed in. Not only did they talk the talk, they walked the walk.

Unfortunately, both were killed by those who were threatened by their ideas.

Why do I write about these two men tonight? They are so different from what we are teaching about what greatness is in the world today. Think of the people that our youth aspire to become. Who are the people who tend to get the most media attention? It is often people with lots of flash and little substance. Sure, there are a few exceptions like Nelson Mandela, but compare him to the hype given David Beckham, Paris Hilton, Hannah Montana and others.

I leave you with this quote from Gandhi: "As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no such thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance, cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side."

And one that Jesus told his followers, "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:32).

As I said, they talked the talk and walked the walk.