THERE'S an old story about a Zulu king whose ceremonial chair was so large it took up the whole interior of his hut, so he had it pulled up on to the roof on jungle vines when it was not being used.

Unfortunately, the ropes snapped one day while he was eating his lunch and the chair dropped down, killing him instantly! The moral is – people in grass houses shouldn’t stow thrones!

Silly story, but it does bring to mind the “stone throwing” that has been going on recently.

A number of our local politicians have behaved rather unwisely and they have been punished for it, not just by their party and their peers but by the public as well.

Some believe that people who hold high office have a greater responsibility and are therefore “fair game” when it comes to dishing out brickbats, insults and condemnation.

In the case of the deputy mayor and his two council colleagues, the condemnation has been severe and the discipline swift.

All three represent parts of my parish and I regard them as colleagues and friends, so I was saddened by the events and heartened by the news of private prayer and support for them all.

Bad behaviour should rightly be addressed, but forgiveness is also important.

I was even more saddened by the delight shown by some in their downfall.

Jesus also spoke about “stone throwing” when a young woman was brought before him having been caught in the act of adultery. Encouraged to stone her as the law required, Jesus responded with those now well-known words “let the one who is without sin cast the first stone”.

Until we stop name-calling, finger-pointing and stone-throwing, broken glass will be the least of our problems. – John.