First Reading
When I first saw the Wizard of Christchurch I thought he was unique. But
after a little reading I discovered that he is a throwback to an old tradition,
the tradition of the ancient cynics. These were travelling philosophers
who had turned their backs on material objects and social prestige. It
is said that Diogenes, the most famous cynic, once came to a stream, pulled
a cup out of his pack and began to drink. He then saw a small boy come
to the stream and drink from his hands. Diogenes smashed the cup and said
"What a fool I've been all these years, lugging around that useless thing."
But although the cynics were poor, they were far from humble. They believed
that they were the only free people in the world, and that all other people
were slaves to materialism and social custom. They were not shy about saying
so. The first reading is from a discourse by the Stoic philosopher Epictetus
[3.22:45-59]. This was delivered in the first century A.D., but if you
want to hear something almost like it, you can go to Cathedral Square in
Christchurch, New Zealand at 1 o'clock almost any afternoon.
"And how is it possible that a man who has nothing, who is naked, houseless,
without a hearth, squalid, without a servant, without a city can pass a
life that flows easily? Look, God has sent you a man to show you that it
is possible. Look at me, who am without a city, without a house,
without possessions, without a servant; I sleep on the ground; I have no
wife, no children, no high office, but only earth and heaven, and one poor
cloak.
"And what do I lack? Am I not without sorrow? Am I not without fear?
Am I not free? When did any of you ever see me disappointed? or falling
into something that I wanted to avoid? did I ever blame God or man? did
I ever accuse anyone? did any of you ever see me looking downcast? And
how do I meet with those whom you are afraid of and admire? Do not I treat
them like servants? Who, when he sees me, does not think that he
sees his king and master?"