Respect

 To have respect for another is to hold them in good esteem.  Respect is a high form of beholding and it can only exist by having earned a greater dominion over ones fellow man.  Respect is earned by holding the highest degree of moral rank that is held because of the common standards of attainment.  To be respected is to be held by another in high esteem that would never do anything except it being in the highest moral and physical standard of acceptance.  It is respect that puts one apart from others and lets it be known that you are held in great regard of making the grade above and beyond the norm.

 In the days of chivalry, a knight had to be respected for deeds that he had carried out.  He could never be held in their company without the respect of all.  If one of them knew of a reason why a knight could not be respected, they would put a black ball in the vote and that would be enough to besmirch the reputation of that knight and he would not be allowed to be accepted.  To be known as to having been black balled was to have a question mark held against ones character and he could no longer be respected.  He would immediately leave this company and would never return.

 If one was met on ones travels, one would need to be aware of the blot on the knight’s character and he would be marked for ever more for being found wanting in the eyes of ones fellow knights with out them actually knowing why.  It would be enough that one of the accepted voters had reason to not uphold the known honor and respect of the whole and forbid his entry into the society of the respected number.  Having once been black balled that knight could no longer aspire to the great deeds, as his merit in office had been questioned and besmirched.  He could only act on positive results but would always fear that there would be those who knew his guilty secret that barred him from being one of them.

 The elite were always respected and would not be otherwise accepted and looked up to.  That black balled knight could only hope that in time he would have been forgotten for having made that mistake and that in the Realms of Heaven he could make amends and be forgiven for perhaps a hasty action that somewhere was still remembered.  If God acknowledge this way and initially did not give His forgiveness, none of us would be forgiven for our mistakes.  It is a harsh punishment never to be able to be cleansed and never to be able to hold up ones head again.  That is not to be unforgiven when asked because none of us are pure enough to cast the first stone.

Wednesday, 24^th March 2021