What Thoughts Do I Owe?

Way way back in the day, like 2000+ years ago, people seemed to crave entertainment, like we do today!  And at that time, the poets were a big deal.  It may sound strange to our ears.  But if you think about it, what is your favorite song that you sing along to?  That song is essentially a poem, but it is sung.  Poets and poems go way back.  The power of the word can make or break someone.  Using the right words is inherently vital in all we do.

If you pull up a book about the Latin language you will surely see quotes from an old poet.  I want to share a poem today from the poet Horace.  This is taken from the book Wheelock's Latin:

Maecenas et Vergilius me hodie vocant.  Quid cogitare debeo?  Quid debeo respondere?  Si erro, me saepe monent et culpant; si non erro, me laudant.  Quid hodie cogitare debeo? -- page 7

Here is my own translation, which is very subject to change, as I myself learn more:

Maecanas and Vergilius called on me today.  What thoughts do I give?  What response do I owe?  If I am in error, then give council often and blame me. If I don't error, then praise me.  What thoughts do I owe?

I find this poem to be quite reflective of the duty of a person.  When your friends call upon you, when they visit you, what do you owe them?  Anything?  I suppose that a person that strives for moral uprightness, charity, virtue, might feel that they owe great and useful thoughts and ideas to their friends.  You might owe to them the truth, and a helping hand.  Whereas, if you follow another path in life, you might feel that you owe your friends nothing.  What would result if you felt this way?  How might they respond if you feel no duty to your friends?

Years ago, I found some of the thoughts and ideas that I owe to others.  Long ago, I was performing missionary service for a long stretch of time, meeting many many new people.  I found that, very frequently, people had trouble articulating the right words to share what their true meaning and intent was!  Their hearts contained one thing, but their words contained yet another, and they clashed!  Because of this human foible, it is easy to misread people, or get the wrong idea about what they want to convey.  I found that I needed to listen deeper to what these people were saying (or shouting), rather than simply taking their words or actions at face-value.  I found that listening actively or deeply is what I owe to others today, and every day.

What thoughts do you owe today?

Til next time amice, valete!
Jonny