THE Beatitudes are a familiar part of the Bible to many people, those verses in what is referred to as Christ’s ‘Sermon on the Mount’ that begin “Blessed are the…”
Some people have given a modern and more humorous take on what qualifies as being ‘blessed’, with such examples as “Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves; they will have endless amusement” and “Blessed are the cheesemakers; for they shall be using up all that surplus milk.” More meaningfully, one has suggested “Blessed are those who can tell a mountain from a molehill; they will be saved a lot of trouble” while another puts it more bluntly: “Blessed are those who know when to shut up and listen; they will learn new things thereby.” Blessing come in all sorts of different formats and ways.
The heading ‘Beatitudes’ has also been transposed in different ways, that help us to understand what they signify. Some have called them the ‘Be-attitudes’, in other words, positive attitudes that we need to have (with the emphasis on our being, as opposed to actions that we should do). A more modern and ‘hip’ version define them as the ‘Be At It, Dudes’, with again the encouragement and challenge for us all to follow such principles, values and examples.
The very principles embodied in the instructions are given for us all to live our best lives and certainly we are all exhorted from all quarters to be the best, to succeed; at school, especially we push everyone to succeed, to be the best. We reward those who are deemed to be the best in different areas, no matter how they may have reached that point.
We push children to be the best in academics, in sport, in cultural activities, so that the school can be deemed to be the best school (even though there is no such competition or title). Speech Days announce the Best this and that; newsletters and social media postings highlight the Best. It is all about the best, the best, the best.
What if we pushed youngsters to be blest instead of being the best? Are we only blest if we are the best? Are we blest if we are the best? Are we the best if we are blest? The reality is that we can be blest without being the best and we can be the best without being blest – which should we aim for?
What then is the difference between best and blest? The obvious answer to that question is very simply the letter ‘L’! That may assist us to understand the difference, though, because ‘L’ can stand for Learner (as it does for those cars adorning that letter), not Loser. We must learn when we win as much as we must learn when we lose.
Those youngsters who wish to learn will be blest.
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What then are we meaning when we use the word ‘blest’ (which is an older spelling of the word ‘blessed’)? In its simplest form, it simply means ‘Happy’ and that surely is the best thing that we would wish for our children. However, we should always warn children that being the best does not necessarily mean we stay happy, finding fulfilment or purpose in life. In addition, ‘blest’ can mean “highly favoured or fortunate”; some would put it as “lucky”. Is blest not the best?
The reality is that all our children are blest with different talents. They have gifts for which they are answerable but as in the biblical parable of the Talents, they each have different talents and different levels of talents. They have done nothing to deserve the talents they have but they have everything to account for how they use them. They will be blest when they use them.
The real difference between ‘best’ and ‘blest’ is not so much in the one missing letter but in its direction. Being the best is all about taking, taking from others, taking first place, taking victory, taking accolades and rewards. It is all about what we can get out of it. Being ‘blest’, in contrast, is much more about giving, giving of ourselves for others. As we read, “it is more blessed to give than receive” though in truth society, marketeers and schools will often seek to present the opposite view. It is in giving that we receive. It is in giving that we are blest.
The ‘Beatitudes’ remind us that ‘Blest’ is all about attitude whereas ‘Best’ is all about ability; there is the major profound difference. Attitude has to come first. What do we want for our children?
To be the best or to be blest? The only thing we should be encouraging our children to be the best is in being blest. And do not forget: children are a blessing, even when they are not necessarily the best.
