A little while back, I recall attending a Spiritualist National Union college course at Stanstead Hall, Essex, the home of the Spiritualist Nation Union.
What sticks in my mind about the Minister who directed the course was the way she encouraged her students to be at their best when they perform on the platform and whilst they are strutting their stuff in front of an audience. If I recollect fittingly, this particular Minister endorses the need for platform workers to be bold in there manor and not to show any sign of humbleness in their approach to platform work.
The definition of ‘humble’ - lowly, modest, abase ( Collins )
Whilst I admire this Minister’s gallant attempt to bring the best out of her students, as I am sure she does, I cannot help but think that exercising caution also plays an important part in our long and often weary path to successful public work.
This leads me to a confrontation I once witnessed at a Hampshire spiritualist church. The Medium, an elegant and confident appearing person, started the service by leading the congregation in prayer; her robust voice adding confidence to the setting. However, the proceedings went downhill at breakneck speed following her public reference to Adolph Hitler and his current status in the Spirit World. For those of you who don’t already know, Adolph is doing just fine and indeed he is ‘progressing well’, quote.
Be that as it may, this was definitely not the place to reveal such distressing news. After all, history recalls several Cities in Hampshire were badly bombed during WW2 by the German Luftwaffe. Consequently, thousands of Hampsire based civilians died in their homes during a matter of hours during these raids.
Whilst I accept that some people can possibly find forgiveness and eventually move on from the horrors of WW2, it may not be so easy for other people to express forgiveness towards a pack of fanatical terrorists. Incidentally, just like this platform Medium, I too did not witness the bombing raids of WW2 as I was born decades after these atrocities.
During this spiritualist service, it became very clear to me that several members of the congregation, judging by their ages, did indeed witness the bombing raids of 1940 - 1945 and adding to this the Medium’s claim that Adolph Hitler is 'progressing well' is distasteful.
I use this case-example from a bag of equally inauspicious comments which have been quoted by platform workers during spiritualist services. It appears to me that some Mediums fail to learn the necessary skills of diplomacy, tactfulness and empathy when they are serving the public. Some mediums demonstrate shear insensitivity to the point of arrogant presumption and lack of understanding.
I think this horror story demonstrates the need for all Mediums to exercise caution and a degree of humbleness in the wake of an outlandish and distressing claim that was made by a platform Medium, who to all intent and purpose, was really talking out of her arse.
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