"There are three sorts of privilege: natural privilege, privilege of office, and privilege of land."
___triad from "Laws of Hywel Dda"
In our time, many people are resentful of privilege whenever they encounter it, seeing only one half of the contract that privilege entails. Yet privilege is nothing less than taking on of responsibility and guardianship. Those who enter professional occupations take on onerous public duties and have a responsibility to those whom they serve, not to themselves. To whom more is given, more is required. Privilege of land is a special responsibility, whether we have only a garden to maintain or a large estate. The responsibility of caring for and not abusing the land under our charge is a heavy one.
Keeping to our own part, to our own duties, enables us to be part of the whole. It is not one person's task to do everything. With our emphasis the nuclear family, we have lost the close sense of community whereby everyone contributes something and has his or her place. Instead, we aim to be superpeople. The privileges that are accorded to each of us depend upon our contribution to the whole. In modern terms, natural privilege now applies to each person: we each receive the privilege of respect as a living being according to our responsiveness to our place to the world.
"Carefully consider the tasks and roles that you are currently maintaining. Are you contributing to your community, or are you taking on too many tasks?"
[From: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]
Your daily posts help to focus on the important things in life: the need for balance and acceptance of the ways of the world and our need to maintain a positive presence in it. Thank You.
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