I start reading Esther today. I know a lot of people name their daughter Esther due to the heroic acts of Esther in this book. I read of the King’s dissatisfaction with his current wife and the decision to ban her from his presence and seek a new one. It amazes that he decided that they needed to spend a year preparing to be in his presence and then he got to try them out first. We know that there was not equality of the sexes during this period.
I view the bible as a part of the evolutionary process. At one point in our evolution, physical strength was very important in the sense that life required a lot of physical labor. We have a lot of modern technology now and we don’t need so much brute strength. So most people interact with the environment without using much brute strength. We drive cars, which require very little force, and we have assistance with most areas of our life.
I have never valued physical labor because I come from a culture, which values the physical above the spiritual, intellectual and emotional. I spent my life feeling deprived because these needs were not addressed. I learn to appreciate the physical including physical beauty by reading the bible. I appreciate the beauty of Esther and how it opened the door to save her people.
I don’t know what it feels like for people to look at you and to not know your race. My race is obvious so that anyone who has issues with my race know that I am one of the people that they oppose. I know what it is like for people “to make exceptions” for me because I don’t fit their stereotype. I do not what it feels like to be in a favored position within your race because of skin tone, intellect and social skills. It doesn’t feel good. You have a lot of superficial friends. There are many people who consider you to be there friend and yet you consider very few people to be your friend.
I know what it feels like to defend your race. I know what it feels like to represent your race and expose yourself to harm and even ridicule because of race. I know what it is like to be a bridge between two races or cultures that have strong feelings against each other. I know that it gets burdensome to always have to speak as a representative of an oppressed group instead of speaking for you.
I know what it is like for your race to make you feel guilty and feel as if you have not done enough because you are blessed. I understand Esther’s feelings with Malachi asking her to risk her life and break the king’s rules to save her people. I know what it is like for people to make you feel guilty because of the sacrifices people made before you.
My mother once told me that I walk in the footsteps of the women who came before me. It is true my grandmothers and great-grandmothers sacrificed their dreams and prayed for a descendent to live the dreams, which failed to appear in their lives. Many times in my life, I have been torn between being the best that I can be and neglecting my development in order to save someone else from their poor choices. It is not a good place to be. No matter what choice you make you will be perceived as a traitor. Malachi insisted on defying the authority of the king’s official and instead of taking responsibility for his actions, he made it Esther’s business to save him.
Esther understood through the tutelage of Malachi that beauty was very important to all men including the king. Malachi was smart enough to put his pony in the race for Queen of the Land. He knew that his niece was beautiful and men desired her. He taught her to use her beauty to meet her own needs as well as put her in a position to be responsible for her people as well. She was in a position to influence the decision maker in the kingdom and influence the treatment of her people for generations.
We live in a different time. I admire Esther and I have embraced my beauty after a half century on this earth. I choose to use my intellect to create and discover. I did not choose to use my physical attributes a lot when I was younger. I see the wisdom of Malachi’s advice and counsel to Esther. It makes sense even today.
I want to ensure that every child receives a free and proper primary school education everywhere in the world. I believe that any child who receives a firm foundation in K-8 skills anywhere in the world has received the tools s/he needs to achieve whatever s/he choses to accomplish. I have created a project to ensure that I implement this goal.
I need to market and advertise this mission all over the world. Beauty captures people’s attention. I need to take a year just like Esther and become the best physical specimen that I can become in order to promote my vision and mission. Malachi understood human nature. If I want to promote my vision and mission of ensuring that all children have access to a free and proper education, I need to learn from his wisdom and example. I need to focus on following in the footsteps of Esther and making myself as pleasing to the eye and pleasant in personality.
People look at the messenger before they listen to the message. The King enjoyed being around Esther because she had a pleasant personality. She humbled herself and made sure that she was pleasing to the eye as well as pleasing to the spirit. People enjoy listening to attractive women with a pleasant personality. I will humble myself in the manner of Esther to meet my mission with the courage that she demonstrated to meet hers.
