Thursday, November 22, 2018
An Emersonian thing
For more than ten years a neighbor has been bringing a plate of food to me on Thanksgiving. I didn't ask for it or expect it; it's just a graceful gesture. But I haven't been eating the food because I've been (more or less) vegetarian for the last 10 years.
This year the food was on a real plate which would require a return, instead of the usual paper plate. It suddenly seemed like too much trouble and waste on their part, so I decided to halt the flow.
I did it as gently and delicately as possible, but I don't know if I did more harm than good.
The real purpose is balancing, as expressed by Emerson:
If you are wise, you will dread a prosperity which only loads you with more. ... In the order of nature we can only seldom render benefits to those from whom we receive them. But the benefit we receive must be rendered again, line for line, deed for deed, to somebody. Beware of too much good staying in your hand. ... Pay it away quickly in some sort.
I've never been in a position to "render benefits" back to this neighbor. They have an extended family with enough labor and cars to do everything needed. If they needed money, I would supply it gratefully and overflowingly; but that request is unlikely.
The most I can do is keep my own house neat and respectable, and improve it occasionally, so I'm not hauling property values down. That's a sort of "sideways" payment, but I'm doing it anyway, so it doesn't feel like a counterbalance to the Thanksgiving gifts.
Labels: Emersonian justice
¶ 5:01 PM
