Through gentleness can we be bold?

I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men. -- Lao Tzu -- Chinese Taoist Philosopher, c. 600 B.C.E.

Of course, Lao Tzu was not alone in practicing a life of gentleness and humility.

In Matthew 11:29, Jesus clearly says, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

But through gentleness can we be bold as Lao Tzu suggested? We all know how hard it is to remain calm when being confronted with anger -- besides in today's world we don't won't to come off as a push-over, so it's just easier to get all puffed up with ego and fight back.

Logically speaking, gentleness and boldness seem more like an oxymoron than a possibility.

The Bible teaches that Jesus was gentle and loving, but it also clearly cites incidents in which Jesus was bold in his actions and that these actions were based on moral intentions.

Mark 11:15-16 explains that Jesus knocked over tables and threw people out of temples in Jerusalem because they were using the temple courts as marketplaces. He also wouldn't allow those carrying merchandise entrance into the temples.

Of course, this action was not irresponsible on the part of Jesus -- who was clearly acting from pure heart, mind and spirit.

Mark 11:17 goes on to explain: And as he taught, saying unto them, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?' But you have made it a den of robbers."

What boldness! Jesus in a temple knocking over tables and 'calling out' those who were using the house of God for unethical purposes.

Jesus was fighting the so-called 'status quo' of the times and doing it in a VERY bold way.

Not only did the buyers and sellers witness this act of boldness, but it also greatly astonished the temples' scribes and priests.

Mark 11:18 (New International Version 2010) goes on to explain just how dangerous this act was: "The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching."

My opening quote from Lao Tzu also suggests through frugality one can be liberal in giving. Again another contradiction in terms.

In today's world, we often think that we have to have a lot to give a lot and if we only have a little how can we give liberally?

It seems that Jesus was another perfect example of living meagerly, yet sharing miraculously.

According to the Bible, Jesus fed a multitude of people with only a few loaves of bread and some fish. But, he also spread much love and wisdom to the poor of spirit -- who were also those most in need of hope and inspiration.

How could Jesus have such compassion for such social outcasts without having an innate understanding of their spirit?

In fact, Jesus' opening words of 'Sermon on the Mount' clearly reiterate his thoughts on the poor in spirit, the sick, the meek, the powerless and those who mourn:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: For they shall he comforted. Blessed are the meek: For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: For they shall be filled ..."

Poor in spirit opens limitless possibilities in my mind. Could those buyers and sellers in the temples of Biblical times be lacking in ethical virtue and thus be poor in spirit too?

How would we define one who is poor in spirit today? And could some of those lacking in spirit be found inside modern day temples? And what about those who do not attend the sermon on Sunday, but view their world and everything in it as a spiritual sanctuary?

Maybe poor in spirit refers to one who is fearful of letting his own light shine. And could it be that Jesus wanted us to follow his lead ...

Merry Christmas.

Timberly is a staff writer at the Greene County Daily World. She can be reached by e-mail at tferree@gcdailyworld.com or by phone at 1-800-947-4487 or (812) 847-4487.