Page 6 - Good News November 2012 paper

round the year 1490, two support them both. They agreed
young friends, Albrecht that when Albrecht was success-
ADürer and Franz Knigstein,
were struggling young artists.
Since both were very poor, they
worked to support themselves
while they studied art.
Work took much of their time and
advancement was slow. Finally
they reached an agreement: they
would draw lots, and one of them
would work to support both of
them while the other would study
art. Albrecht won and began to
study art while Franz laboured to
become stiff and twisted. His
ful, he would support Franz who
would then study art.
Albrecht went off to the cities of
Europe to study. As the world now
knows, he not only had talent, but
genius.
When he had attained success, he
went back to keep his bargain
with Franz. But Albrecht soon
discovered the enormous price
his friend had paid. For as Franz
performed hard manual labour to
support his friend, his fingers had
slender, sensitive hands had
been ruined for life! He could no
longer execute the delicate brush
strokes necessary to fine pain-
ting. Though his artistic dreams
could never be realized, he was
not embittered, but rather
rejoiced in his friend's success.
One day Dürer came upon his
friend unexpectedly and found
him kneeling with his gnarled
hands intertwined in prayer,
quietly praying for the success of
his friend, although he himself
could no longer be an artist.
Albrecht hurriedly sketched the
folded hands of his faithful friend an eloquent story of love, sacri-
and later completed a truly great fice, labour and gratitude. And it
masterpiece known as “The has reminded multitudes the
Praying Hands.” world around that they also may
Today, art galleries everywhere find comfort, courage and
feature Albrecht Dürer's works. strength through the power of
But of them all, none holds the prayer. [J. Palmer Muntz,
place in the hearts of people that FRIENDSHIP, Ideals Publishing
“The Praying Hands” does. It tells Corp. USA, 1974].
here was an old man who carried a little can of oil with
him everywhere he went. If he passed through a door that
Tsqueaked, he poured a little oil on the hinges. If a gate
was hard to open, he oiled the latch.
So he went through life lubricating all the hard places and
making it easier for those who came after him. People called
him eccentric, queer, cranky, odd, and other degrading names.
But the old man went steadily on, refilling his can of oil when it
became empty and oiling the hard places he found. He did not
wait until he found a creaky door or a rusty hinge and then go
home to get his oil; he carried it with him.
There are many lives that creak and grate harshly day by day.
They need lubricating with the oil of kindness, gentleness, or
thoughtfulness. That can of oil is predominantly one that
characterizes the Christian religion. The task of using it
belongs to those who claim to be Christians.
As the old man kept his oil with him, so we need to keep our
Christian kindness handy. It does no good if left at home or in
the church.
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