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Writer's pictureLinda Odhner, with photos by Liz Kufs
Sep 90 min read

Excerpted Inspirations #144


[Parson James Anderson counsels Mrs. Hepplewhite, whose husband has been imprisoned for business fraud.] “So if he had succeeded he would not have done wrong?” “Not in the eyes of the world.” “But in your eyes?” “Yes, I should have thought he had done wrong. The money was not his to gamble with, and it represented the prosperity and happiness of other people.” “Other people are ruined because of what he did?’ “Perhaps ruined is to strong a word, but they will suffer.” “I’m sorry,” said Mrs. Hepplewhite simply, and then after a pause, “I must do something for them.” The typical kindness touched him but that she should think that anything she could do would ameliorate even the fringe of the devastation touched him even more. It was like a child trying to empty the ocean with a toy bucket. Yet the same criticism could be leveled at every individual attempt to ameliorate or withstand the titanic evils of the world, and the puny efforts had to be made because it was all one could do. And if there were enough children with enough buckets ... “I agree with you,” he said. We will talk about it later when the situation is clearer.” Elizabeth Goudge, The Scent of Water (1963). pp. 293-294

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