Friday 26 September 2008

Curses.

I was speaking to a man yesterday who has his own business. He was telling me that the day before a woman came to see him. He gave her twenty-five minutes of her time and then, as would be expected by anyone going to that business, she was given a bill to pay. The lady became extremely angry, livid in fact. Amongst other things she said in her tirade, which was in front of other staff and customers, she said "You'll be sorry. Just you wait. I'm a spiritualist and I will curse you and your family and your business". And with that she paid up and stormed off.

Yesterday, the man called her and left an answering machine message for her to come and collect a refund of her money. Not because it had been wrong to charge her but just because he felt that it was the right thing to do. I commented to him that the Bible says to repay evil with good. I've checked this morning and I don't think it exactly says that at all (oops) but it does say, amongst other things, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21) and "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing.." (1 Peter 3:9) which are along the same lines.

I've never given curses any thought. I suppose I couldn't have said whether people still went in for cursing nowadays.

Interestingly enough, my Bible reading portion for today "happened" to include this: "Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest" (Proverbs 26:2).

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

And, for me, Proverbs 26:2 says it all!

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

It's still a very creepy thing to have happen. I'm so glad you found that verse in Proverbs.

You have to wonder how many bills this woman had gotten out of with that threat.

Doorman-Priest said...

I understand African Christians fear cursing in a big way. It is interesting how our culture adds overtones.

Billie Greenwood said...

My Guatemalan Spanish teacher totally believed in Black Magic & its curses.

I watched a YouTube video this morning from a few years ago of U.S. vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin (at that time running for governor of Alaska) being blessed in her church as a protection against witchcraft.

Can anyone bless the USA against her election? Please?

AnneDroid said...

Thanks y'all. I wonder how a curse is supposed to work? The devil is not the type, as far as I can see, to do what he's told... I think, on reflection, I don't want to know and I'm not going to think about it too much. Call me an ostrich if you want!

racingdemon said...

A priest friend used to say "Put the fun back into religion; bring back cursing!" But seriously, the Practice of Goodwill, as some are calling it, is proved to have real benefits. The so-called urban myth that if you let someone pull out of a junction in front of you, they are more likely to do the same for someone else, so spreading goodwill, is proven to work; I do it! As well as making others feel better, it reduces you own stress levels, and may even have other tangible physical effects.