Nada / Sinai Guide, Sherpa & Bedouin Philosopher

 - Photo by Gene Ort -

My Bedouin Sherpa-guy was talking about Sheila as we walked down Mt. Sinai.  He asked if I had a wife. Then he asked how long we'd been married, if I was happy with her and what kind of woman she was.  (I'd asked him so many questions during the day that I guess he figured it was his turn to question me.) I told him I was very happy with her and we had been married for a long long time. I told him I loved her and we had 3 wonderful children who'd married three wonderful spouses.  And I told him I had 2 wonderful grandchildren. 

Nada asked if I loved my children. I assured him I did, saying, "I love my son. I love my daughters." He raised an eyebrow and asked, "You love your daughters?" I replied, "Very much." Hearing that he laughed and laughed.

He then asked if I was going to get a 25 year old wife. 

That question was so unexpected I assumed I'd misunderstood him. So I asked for clarity, "What? A 25 years old wife?"

He said, "Yes. Will you now get a 25 year old wife?  You are old. You get a 25 year old wife now. You will be very happy."  With that he just looked at me.  

So I asked, "Why would you think I'd want to do that?"  I reminded him I was very happy with my one wife. 

He said "Many men who get very old (apparently, referring to me again), get a 25 year old wife because it makes them so happy."

I said, "In my heart I love only one woman."

"Ah!" He said, "The eyes of men love many women, but the heart of a man loves only one."

(Hit the "Pause Button" here and let me admit something. It was only by about this time in the conversation that I realized I was being schooled by a 26-year-old Bedouin philosopher. According to Nada, all men think the same way, whether they live in a Bedouin tent with four or five wives, or they live in Michiana.  Who knew?  What the Bible calls, "the lust of the eyes," seems to be a world wide condition - even in the desert.)

When I told him I had given the love in my heart, and the love in my eyes, to my one wife, he laughed and laughed and laughed.

So, I gave him more stuff to carry down the mountain....

Thought you would enjoy the story. 

Matthew 5:28-29  -  Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt. Let's not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here's what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. 

Comments

[Brian Burris]

I would love to have been there during that conversation. Hysterical!!!!!! Sould have given him some "help" down the mountain.