Our brother, Marvin Murphy, who recently passed, often contributed short pieces to our website.  Having worked in the past as a journalist, he was quite skilled at getting to the kernel of truth with very few words.  We have included two of his pieces below, and will bring out a few others in the coming weeks.

                                                                                    - Barry Bryson

THE HUMILITY OF GRANDMA MOSES

By Marvin Murphy

Grandma Moses, an American folk artist, was in her seventies when she began to paint seriously.  She lived to be 101 years old—from 1860 to 1961.  Self-taught, she liked bright colors and generally worked from memory.

Her painting techniques, as her life, were simple.  “I paint from the top down,” she once explained.  “From the sky, then the mountains, then the hills, then the houses, then the cattle, and then the people.”

She lived an unpretentious, gentle, and humble life despite sudden fame.  How rare this quality is, as witnessed by many pop-singing stars, rising actors and professional athletes.

I can appreciate her talent, having done a little painting of my own.  With no special talent for art, I learned to paint only through instruction, stubbornness and grunts.

Remaining humble, despite fame and fortune, is a little like raising one’s self up by your bootstraps?  It’s impossible without some assistance.  Our greatest help, I am convinced, can only  come from God.

The word “humility” signifies lowliness or submissiveness and is derived from the Latin “humilitas.”  The humble person is characterized by meekness, modesty and moderation—by no means an easy thing to attain.

Humility, when applied to persons or things, refers to that which is abject, ignoble, and poor—or in ordinary terms, “not really worth much.”  Therefore, we say that a person comes from “humble birth” or that a house is a “humble dwelling.”

“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.”  Proverbs 22:4

IT IS OK TO BE ANGRY

By Marvin Murphy

One of my hobbies is drawing, with emphasis on cartoons. One of the first things I had to learn was how to draw facial and bodily expressions, ranging from smiling to sinister looks. Of all the emotions, none is more expressive than anger.

The Anatomy of Anger:

Emotions often are stirred, either to attack or retreat. It may begin with an innocent remark, dissatisfaction or outright hatred. It becomes a matter of fight or flight! It shows in your face and expresses itself in other bodily changes.

Its manifestations are myriad: a frown, contempt, aggressive behavior, by wrinkling your brow, gritting your teeth, making acid remarks, stomping your feet, pointing your finger, doubling up your fist, flailing arms, spiteful remarks, growling, pouting, blowing your stack, crying as if in great pain, fury, indignation, Rage and expressions of disgust and hatred.

Anger is often accompanied by other emotions, about which the Bible gives warning:

"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath"  Ephesians 4:26.