“If we know that we are not perfect ourselves, how is it that we expect others to be perfect?   Even though I know that I make mistakes, I still somehow expect others not to make any mistakes.  This does not seem like a good view of the world and of life and other people.”

“I know. I feel the same way, however, it seems to be human nature.  I guess we sometimes forget that we are no better and have made our share of mistakes as well.”

The man went to sleep that night thinking about the conversation he had with his wife.  It seemed that everyone in the world was looking at all of the things that people of fame or political stature say – sometimes in private that was somehow recorded, and then they analyze it to death.   It’s like stoning someone for saying the wrong thing even though all those holding a stone have done the same thing many times themselves.

The next day the man awoke and was getting ready for work.  He and his wife were both preparing for their days.

“You know, when people say the wrong thing, they usually come out and apologize later.  However, no one ever really asks them what it is they intended to say. ”

“That’s true.  I thing some of the people said what they intended, but only apologized after they were caught.”

The man went to work that morning and said his usual “good mornings.”  Later in the day he went outside for lunch to enjoy the beautiful, spring day.

He found a quiet place next to a fountain to sit and eat his sandwich.   As he looked into the fountain he could see the coins that people tossed into the water after making a wish.   There must be lots of wishes, the man thought.  I wonder how many of them came true.

He then remembered throwing a coin into a fountain when he was a young boy.  He even remembered his wish.  He had wished for a new bicycle.  That year for his birthday his wish had come true.  It’s too bad my wishes are no longer for bicycles, he thought to himself.

When he looked again into the fountain, he saw a much larger coin than the others.  It appeared to be very old and not from any country for which he was aware.  Then he recognized the coin from a dream.  It was a dream he had the night before.

As he stared at the coin, he began to recall the dream.  He was in a dark, ancient dungeon and he was the judge presiding over some people.   As he thought about the dream, he began to recount it in his mind.

“Order, order in the court,”  he proclaimed, while tapping his gavel on the hard wood.

“The court finds the defendant guilty, of heresy and witchcraft.”

The cries from the young women standing in their torn dresses and their mothers and fathers behind them were heard.

“Order.  I will no tolerate these outbursts,” he demanded.

The event was taking place many years ago.  He figured it was centuries ago, but did not know the timeframe.  He also wondered why it is he was the judge and apparently the jury over these young women.  As he thought deeper, he could remember more of the dream.

“Would any of you like to address the court, one last time?”

One of the fathers in the back, raised a shaking hand.

“Proceed.”

“If I may respectfully request of the court that he might accept me in place of the young women here.  I have lived a good life, and they have so much life in front of them. ”

“I will consider that request.”

The judge dismissed the court and retreated to his chambers.  He recounted the story of the women and the testimony.  He was beginning to reconsider his verdict – however, it was a verdict that he had already declared.  He could not go back on it now or he would never be respected again.  He would be perceived as a waffling judge and lose his authority.

He looked on his desk and saw a coin.   The coin was magnificent with the face of the emperor on both sides.  The coin was old, even for that period of time and was no longer in circulation.  I’ll bet no one here has ever seen this coin before, he thought.

He then had an idea.  It was an idea that might get him out of the jam for which he found himself.  He could not forgive himself if those women had to endure the consequences of his verdict.  He knew what they had done and said, but now was convinced that their intent was entirely different.

Why should they be penalized because they did something that looked like they intended to do, but now I know it was all a misunderstanding?  However, I cannot let the father who volunteered to take their place suffer either.

Later that afternoon, he assembled the court.

“Everyone stand,”  the guard demanded.

The judge walked onto the desk assembled high above the rest of the people present.

“I have considered the request of the father, and have come to a decision. ”

“No, I will not let the father take the place of these women.”

The crowd gasped as the women began to cry.

“Order.  Order.”

“If I may finish.  I will not let the father take the place of these women.  However, since someone else was willing to put his own life behind those of another, I respect that.  To show my respect for that, I have decided to flip a coin.  If the father wins the outcome, he will not need to be imprisoned, but the women will be freed.”

The judge then took out the coin that was on his desk in his chambers.  He held it high showing the head of the emperor.

“If it lands so the face of our ancestor of this court is showing, the women will be freed, since that will be of his will.”

The women and families looked on with fear and excitement.

“I would like the father who volunteered to take his place come up here please.”

The man cautiously walked to the place where the judge was sitting.

The judge placed the coin on his thumb and gave it a toss into the air.  He caught it and held it on his hand while covering it with the other hand.

“This verdict is final and there will be no more discussion afterwards.  I would like you to announce what you see.”

The father peered over the judge waiting for the coin to be revealed.  The judge moved his hand slowly to reveal the coin.

“It’s the emperor’s face!”  The father proclaimed in joy.

“That is the emperor’s decision.  The women are free to go!”

The man opened his eyes to see the same coin in the fountain, but he could not find it – it was gone.

Ω

InspiraCard

Sometimes we need to give people a second chance.  Sometimes, we need to look at what was intended versus what was said or done. Yes, the intention may have been the action, but often times it’s misconstrued!

Written, Mon, Mar 21, 2016, 8:21 – 8:51 AM MDT