



Doctrine in dialogue format



Meet the Plebes


The meek shall inherit the earth

See that shanty on the corner, near the railroad tracks? The one with a collection of rusted automobiles and lead pipes. Yes, that's the one. There lives Lanslo and Honeysuckle Plebe, the neighborhood handyman. Let's go meet the Plebes, shall we?

In today's episode we find Welter Ferret and Lanslo working on a car together. Listen:

"Do you think we'll be able to fix my car without spending too much money Mr Lanslo?"

"Reckon so Welter. Just have ta' yank a starter off'n one a' these junk heaps is all. Hand me that wrench by your elbow."

"Oh sure, here it is Mr Lanslo. I need to get this car running so I can go into the city and check out the college and the curriculum available. Dad said he wants me to make something of myself, so I have to see what's available. You know how it is."

"Nope, can't say as how I do Welter. What you mean, make somethin' a' yourself? You is already a man, what more can ya' be?"

"He means to get an education and become someone important, like, with status. To get anywhere in this world you have to strive for the top. That's what Dad says."

"You're dad says that does he? An' just what is it you is goin' ta' make a' yourself? Not a woman I is hopin'"

"No, nothing like that Mr Lanslo. He means to be a lawyer or a politician or something like that. Someone high in society and making lots of money."

"Is'at so? Has your pa ever see'd the folks across the street what live in Highborn Manor? They is something else to behold. Does he hanker for you to be like they is?"

"I don't think so Mr Lanslo. But it is kind of a rule to be all you can be. So I guess that's what I'll do."

"A rule you say? An' who done come up with such a rule you suppose? Probable some folks with they nose in the air I'm supposin'. But you Welter, what does you wants ta' be? Does you want ta' be rich an' famous like your pa wants you ta' be?"

"Kind of I do Mr Lanslo. But I also want to be like a free spirit if you know what I mean. I mean, I don't want to work a nine to five job and bring in minimum wages or anything like that. But I don't want to be a bum on the street either. I guess I just don't know what I want to be. What do you suggest Mr Lanslo?"

"Me? Can't rightly tell you Welter. I found my niche in the world. I's happy just they way I is. Don't want no more, nor does I want no less. I'd say I has reached my goal. Yep, that's what I'd say."

"Well, I guess that's all a person can really ask for Mr Lanslo. But to tell you the truth, I don't think I'd particularly like to be a handyman, if you don't mind my saying so. I guess the freedom you have would be nice. And I sure like the way you feel free to speak your mind whatever the cost. But I'm not good with my hands like you are. And I like an intellectual challenge as well. But tell me, what did you do to find your place in the world? I mean, is there some kind of path to follow, or a philosophy of life you live by in order to find peace and tranquility?"

"Only road I knows of is the road I done followed. Can't rightly say it's the right road, nor the better road, only know it done got me where I is today."

"And what road is that Mr Lanslo?"

"Well, I guess if I gots ta' put it in words I'd say it was a twisty-turny road I done followed. I kind a' started our like you sorta'. I mean, I didn't know just what to do with this here life God done gived me. So I just kind a shucked it all an' hit the road. I did a heap a' walkin' all over, and I did a bit a' this, an' a bit a' that, until I found there is a whole bunch a' stuff I thought I might like ta' do ain't what it's cracked up ta' be. But in the learnin' of that, I done learned ta' do a bunch a' stuff. So that's how I done becomed a handyman."

"So, it kind of sounds to me like you're saying that learning what you want to be takes learning what you don't want to be. Is that what you're saying Mr Lanslo?"

"In proper words, I guess it is Welter. Ya see, lots a folks is like you, tryin' ta' catch their identity, figurin' out who they is an' who they isn't. Most starts out by tryin' ta' be like some famous fella on the TV or movie screen. They dresses like that fella, they talks like that fella, and they thinks like that fella. Some folks gets caught in that trap an' never becomes anything but a cheap copy a' someone who is a imitation of a figur' they made up they's own self. Other folks do just the contrary. They rebels. They think society is nothin' ta' be a part of, so they acts just as differently as they is able. Onlyest trouble is, they acts, dresses, an' in every way is like all the others what is rebelling. So what they done did is make for themself a society of they's own, which is part and parcel a' what they was tryin' ta' rebel against. We all wants to be different, but we fears being too different than everyone. So we be's the same as the different ones we takes the most likin' for. Does that clear your thinking any Welter?"

"I guess it does Mr Lanslo. I guess you're saying that we learn by imitation to begin with, then if we grow past that, then we learn by trial and error, like you did. But the problem with trial and error is that people will judge and condemn you if you do things different than they do, and that they think you should. Isn't that so?"

"'Deed it is Welter. That be so all right. But mind you, whatever you does is going to be judged by somebody. Jesus His self was judged an' condemned by the folks what said we should all be the same, an' the same to them meanin' ta' be just like theyselves. So bein' judged ain't ours ta' decided. What is ours is to decide is who we wants ta' reject us, an' who we wants to approve a' us. An' if you gets down an' dirty, it's really who you wants ta' be, an who God wants you ta' be what's important."

"Who God wants us to be? What do you mean Mr Lanslo? Doesn't God want us to be all we can be? That's what I always heard."

"What you hears is not always what God truly says Welter. Your pa an' everybody else might say to be high an' mighty. But God says He don't like the high an' mighty an' they ain't goin' ta' be welcome in His kingdom. He says to be like the worm, ta' be low thinkin' of yourself. So what we has ta' decide is if we wants ta' please our own self an' peoples who wants us ta' be like them, or ta' please God who wants us ta' be like Him, an' His son, Jesus. That, Welter, is the big question."








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