A Matter of Priorities - A Reflection

During my first year as a teacher I found an old book, circa 1939, hidden in a dusty closet. Entitled, An American Eagle, a small faded blue hardcover that was the biography of Benjamin Franklin whose author, as I recall, was Robert Lawson. Within the pages Lawson described an incident in Ben’s life as a young child which governed views on life. When Ben was a child of seven years old, his friends gave him some coins that amounted to about fourteen cents. On the way to a toy shop with his newly acquired wealth, he met another boy with a whistle and having been charmed with the sound it made,” he voluntarily offered and gave all his money for one. When Ben returned home to tell his siblings about the bargain he had made, they told him that he had just paid four time its value. This unfortunate transaction would be of great use to Ben as he met various people throughout his life and whenever he was tempted to buy some unnecessary item, he would say to himself, ” Don’t give too much for the whistle,” and he saved his money. Using the term whistle as a metaphor throughout his adulthood as he observed the actions of people, he met many who gave too much for the whistle. Whenever he saw a person with misguided ambition who constantly neglected his personal responsibilities, Ben thought, “He pays too much for his whistle.” When he met with a man who sacrificed his health in pursuit of temporary worldly fame and glory, he thought, “Mistaken man, you have paid very dearly for your whistle.” When Ben saw a beautiful, sweet-tempered girl remaining in an abusive relationship, Ben remarked, “What a pity that she should pay so much for a whistle.”

According to the story, Ben strongly felt that much of the miseries of mankind are brought upon themselves by the false estimates that they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles. Have we given in to temptations? Do we have priorities which cause us to neglect our relationships? Are there whistles in our lives today? Have we paid dearly for them? Have we reconciled with the Creator and, through our personal ambition, those whom we have neglected?