Servants and Patrons V

For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.

 - From Mark 7

We discuss more, the behaviors, or attitudes of servants here. There are many reasons why the world dishonors the idea of serving. The first is that servants don't make much money. 

As a well-paid pastor told me once, when I asked why my experience (as a local elected official and corporate manager) did not yield appointments to church boards and committees: 

"Because, Gordon, you don't appear to have had any success." He was talking about the outward appearances, the trappings of being "successful." I didn't have a new car. Didn't disappear into town at 7AM every morning and return after dark, my tie loosened. I didn't own a big home.

A Christian counselor . . . a licensed psychologist. . . once started to ask me, when I mentioned working with kids to put on music performances in the community "Where do you get the time to . . . ?!" . . . . But then he stopped himself. He probably realized how that sounded. 

But real servants do more than that. They aren't just of modest income. If they are humble, and have earned esteem by helping others, they should be ruining their image by modeling certain behaviors, and advocating for them. On the one hand, people appreciate the good things servants do. On the other, they think poorly of them because they are not rich. On the one hand, people understand that humility, expressed in good deeds to others, is a virtue. But on the other hand, they despise the mirror that good people hold up to them, through words and deeds, that exposes their own sinful state. Let's look at Christ's list of the things that come out of the heart, that defile us. But let's rephrase, or expound a little.

Sexual impurity. Sorry, but yes, there it is. And yes, it is first on the list. Of course we are born with desires and drives. Yes, it is in our DNA. Yes, we can't help it. And yes, Christ made it something we must master, by establishing boundaries around it that are . . . yes . . . very challenging to many of us. But it yields the patience and selflessness that is required of the servant of God. 

Stealing. And I think it is referring even to little things . . . like taking some paper clips home, from work, that you know you will need. And yes . . . we all do this. But let's not pretend that stealing doesn't have a perfect standard to be measured against, like all vices.

Killing others. And let's remember that Christ considered hate towards others to be the same as murder. People go on record all the time, on Social Media, asserting that they despise this person, or hate that individual. Doesn't matter if they're famous. Doesn't matter if they're Hitler. Don't murder. Don't hate.

Marriage, divorce, pre-marital relations, extra-marital relations. Yep. Life is complex in our times. But the perfect standard is there. And our rapidly fraying culture may have it's roots in the weakening of the ties that have bound families together for eons. Yes, you deserve to be happy. So do the people whose values and purpose fly out the window when they can no longer count on you. 

Greed. How many times have you heard a person that, out of one side of their mouth, complains about the wealthy . . . but out of the other, boasts about the six-figure income he will earn once he gets this degree from that university?

Wickedness. This seems like a sort-of "catch-all," doesn't it? We can get some consensus on this one. Nobody wants to be "wicked." They may violate all of the above, but as long as they're not "wicked," then they must be okay. It's a case of "It's hard to define it, but I know it when I see it." Even Hitler didn't want to be "wicked." But here's the problem: I'll bet almost any person that goes around pointing out people that are "wicked," has his or her own opponents that consider him "wicked". Yes . . . eventually, even the best person is called "wicked" by somebody. So if you are concerned about rooting out wickedness, start by finding out the ways in which someone labels you that way, and change. 

Deceit. Just look at the typical job interview. Or dating screening process. Or sales pitch.

Lack of self-control. So far, every third or fourth item in this list is related to sexual purity, and what we would call "traditional values." But look at it this way: how many of society's most crushing current problems would fade away, if we had a generally-accepted, practiced, and encouraged emphasis on self-control, most notably practiced in one's sexuality?

Envy. Really, all of your needs are provided. You don't need an expensive vacation. Enjoy the people you are with now. Appreciate the setting in which you find yourself, now. 

Slander. Yes, don't do it. Even if your target is a national political figure. 

Pride. Maybe this word, and concept is being overused today? Servants do not draw attention to themselves. 

Foolish Behavior. Let's face it. In our times, anybody can act as foolish as they want, and find an approving audience. 100 Likes is easy, with the entire world connected. But someone will object: "Don't we all have our own definition of 'foolish'? Why can't I just be myself?" Well, here's the problem: People acting foolishly are not trying to be fools. They're trying to be noticed, to stand out. But, a real servant affirms these people long before they start acting out on some global platform. We may not recognize right away, which of our behaviors would be "foolish." We need to trust someone, like one of our elders, that can tell us "No, you do not want to do that." Servants avoid acting foolishly. They have enough behaviors and attitudes to defend, without adding something superficial to it. 

Okay, so that's it. This list should make everyone realize that we all have missed the mark. If you're not perfect, then welcome to the club. The list of things that defile us, or draw us away from God, is rather large, and it's rather universal. We all fall short. 

As Dwight Carpenter once added, in a sermon: "There! Have I missed anybody?"

But one of the most humble and risky things a servant can do, is to uphold this list. And since none of us is going to come out perfect, we need servants, at least, to articulate the perfect standard. That's what a standard is. That's the point. It's not that we're judgmental if we talk about perfection. It's that we should be humble and bold enough to talk about the standards, anyway. And then keep moving gradually closer to those high goals. 

And as for the rest of us, that do not aspire to be servants . . . let's see if we can encourage those people that do talk about purity and godliness, and even more so, they that strive so to practice.  

Servants and Patrons IV

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

 - From James 1

If we are to understand godly servanthood, it helps to look at the basic., fundamental behaviors that God expects of His children. The Old Testament repeats the refrain over and over again. God expects us to:

• Care for aliens or "strangers" passing through our land. Of course, this idea is quite popular with the modern Left, but only for the political gain it might get them.
• Caring for orphans. Our modern application of this means, help out single parents, and all kids whose parents are not able to, or won't, provide their basic needs.
• Care for widows. And again, in modern times, this may include women and men that are divorced, where the divorce left them in hardship.

In other words, take care of your own. If families stayed together and supported one another, if elders always had someone looking after them and noticing them, if kids were give all of the advantages of all the other kids . . . then really . . . what left would there be for us to take care of?

And then the "aliens" part is not just talking about immigrants coming in from Mexico. It's really referring to all people that are not members of your family: treat them well and be hospitable. 

So that's it. 

We need servants because people do not take care of these basics. This is really the role of a pastor: take care of everybody, and shepherd others so that they take care of everybody, too. 

But I believe it starts with your immediate family . . . and then to your extended . . . and then to your distant relatives. This should keep you busy enough; but be ready to help someone local, to whom you are not related. 

And if we all had this attitude, there would be no need for all these federal social programs, so that we could use all the excess that we would surely have, and export our help to needy peoples throughout the world. 

Look for someone doing these things. 

And help them.

Servants and Patrons III (Park)

For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways . . . 

 - From Psalm 91

It comes to mind . . . 

Isn't it too bad that God's people, His most devoted servants, in the end, always have to rely on God alone, to get them out of trouble?

I heard Dr. Matt Hook once, in a sermon, quote a prayer someone said: "LORD - these problems are overwhelming to me. I don't know what to do about it. But I'm tired, and I have to get some sleep. I"m putting it all in your care. Good night."

Why does it come to this? In a nation that boasts over half the population that claims the label "Christian," how can there be any one person, serving God, that is in such dire straits? The people with the money and resources aren't that interested in serving. They may give a little to church or charities to assuage their guilt. But how can they let people close to them dangle in the night wind, with problems they could solve?

The series is called "Servants and Patrons," and it is going to elevate the role of servanthood, while encouraging the rest of us to support, i.e. patronize, or assist with our funds, resources, and encouragement, they that serve. 

The tithe is an interesting figure. It is the amount that we should save from each paycheck. And it is the amount we should donate to charity. And it should come off the top of our paychecks. But what about charity in our own homes and families? 

My vision is that families, and extended families, should take care of their own first. And that if they did that, they would still have ample funds left over to care for non-family members that are in need  . . . but close in proximity to the family. 

When the Psalmist cries out to God, because he has been abandoned by friends and family, in the face of danger, we get two common lessons: 1) Trust in God, no matter what and 2) The person of faith is usually in the minority, and sometimes is the only one left, to do right. But there's a third point you rarely hear about: 3) What happened to the friends and family of the Psalmist?

Can't we open our eyes and ears, ask some questions, encourage our brightest young ones to go into service careers . . . and then support them?

Maybe this phenomenon, that it's always those closest to you that are the most discouraging, is the real problem in the world. And so very easy to fix!

I invite you to visit my YouTube Channel, The G Drive. 

To learn how to support my programs in music, education, community, and family, please visit my team's Patreon page.

Thank you, and feel free to drop a line!

Servants and Patrons II (Park)

The Lord ransoms the life of his servants.

 - From Psalm 34

Study the above scripture verse just a little. There is more than one way to interpret its exact meaning. The "servants" mentioned may be referring to people that serve The LORD.

But it can also mean "servants," as in people that serve, in a generic sense. They serve others . . . not just the LORD.

But in other places of the Bible, we get the point that, if you want to serve God, you must serve other people What are some of the characteristics of servants? Well, the scripture above serves as a summation of what had gone before. So we may assume that the particular Psalm is all about servants. Here are some examples:

• Servants are righeous
• They cry, as in tears of grief or of pain
• They're troubled
• Their hearts are broken, and their spirits crushed
• People that hate them will be punished
• They trust in the LORD

So the first thing is, the life of a servant is painful. It's very frustrating, and hurtful, to be engaged in good works, to want to help others, but to do that, you need help yourself; and for others to be unmoved by your please for support. Servanthood does not a wealthy person make! Servants need support! 

God has given a way for those that do not serve, to serve! And it is, with your time, and with your tithes. 

In the end, you're going to be on the side of the people God protects!!

Servants and Patrons (Park)

... we will serve the Lord.

 - From Joshua 24

The interesting thing about the concept of "service" is that we both revere and abhor it at the same time. 

A person that voluntarily serves is, on paper, highly honored. But taken to its extreme, a person's service becomes involuntary. And if it edges into forced service, it becomes slavery.

The form of the word "servant" rendered "servitude" has a negative connotation. It reminds us of the phrase "Indentured Servitude," which is synonymous with slavery. And yet we are called to be slaves of Christ, which is good.

The greater must serve the lesser, says The Lord. We acknowledge this intellectually, but do we do it?

We can serve our country, serve out community, serve our family, serve our constituents, but all of these sound harmless and noteworthy enough. But it gets awkward when we start saying "Serve your boss, serve your employees, serve your spouse, serve your kids, serve your co-workers, etc."

Why? Is service good, or isn't it?

If we say "I am here to serve you" with sincerity, the other person may then take advantage of you. And the person that serves too much, without reciprocity, in a relationship, is called "co-dependent," which makes them now a person that needs professional therapy. 

And . . . just have a high schooler announcing his career plans to his parents: "I just want to serve others. Let me become a checkout person at the grocery store. That's all I want to do." That child is now thought to be without motivation or goals. 

Is service good? Or isn't it?

Joshua called on Israel to serve God. His main rationale for that is something they agreed with: "We're going to stick with what works. God got us our freedom. He kept us safe in the wilderness. He defeated our enemies for us. We are safe, secure, free, healthy, wealthy, and wise: we will stay with the Lord."

Service to God made them the world's masters, for a time. The last shall be first.

And how does one serve God? By serving others. 

We begin a series of reflections on servants in our communities, and the need for us to encourage, and support them. 

Gangs and Bullies X (Park)

 Happy are they who dwell in your house!

 - From Psalm 84

The Psalmist strikes at the very heart of our deepest longing: a house, a home.

A place where you belong. A dwelling, where you can take your shoes off and it's always appropriate. A home . . . a building where your loved ones live. A place of memories: of childhood years, of games with siblings, cousins, and friends.

Through the years, your dwelling changes. If it remains your chief abode (and we are wired to resist change), then you go from being a child that loves hearing stories from your grandparents, to an elderly person that is cheered when the grandchildren visit. 

The Psalmist affirms: one day on God's house is better than a thousand living in the tents . . . (the "tents", plural) of the wicked. 

But don't the wicked have more fun?

Perhaps . . . but your spirit is not warmed in the homes of the wicked. You can't just say, "I'm going to bed now," and then walk out of the living room, down the hall, to your room . . . your room . . . in your bed . . . where your pajamas may be retrieved from your chest of drawers. And when you awake in the morning, you may help yourself to some breakfast, because it's your house, your home, so . . . don't worry, relax, be comfortable, be safe, and be secure.

There's a certain profound form of trust and security, when you can have an overnight stay in the home of family, and they have prepared a sleeping quarters especially for you. The wicked are horrible at that. Because even if they feign hospitality, it's all fake. 

I had a fourth grade classroom one year. In Language Arts, the kids were working on their own "personal narrative," in which they described the most important event of the first ten years of their lives, and then presented in an oral report. The activity ended up being more heartbreaking than I anticipated. 

A typical narrative was by one boy, who said that his parents' divorce was the most important event in his life, because from then on, he never had his own bedroom. He would go to his Dad's house for a week, and sleep in a bed that would go to his step-brother on the off weeks. But the same thing happened when it came to his mother's home.

Kids without homes. Kids without a bedroom. 

Do you think they become bullies? Do you think their sense of separation from their families, and from a true home, makes them more likely to join gangs, or mass movements of angry people protesting something? 

The solution to gangs and bullies is strong families and homes.

But that's pretty much the solution to everything. 

Gangs and Bullies IX (Park)

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel....

 - From 1 Kings 8

We have a great meeting in Israel, of something like the two types of people we have been talking about:

First, we have Solomon, the King of Israel. He was probably greater even than his father, David, for he ruled over a truly united Kingdom. He ruled without scandal, without intrigue. It was like America's "Era of Good Feelings" under James Monroe. The economy was sound, international affairs were solid. And the nations of the world really seemed to look towards Israel for the model of good governance, culture, and people.

Solomon was a powerful sole ruler . . . but he was no bully. He had too much wisdom for that!

Second, we have the entire "Assembly" of Israel. Or did we? The context shows us that there were representatives from each of the Tribes of Israel: twelve of them. And just how were they chosen? No . . . they weren't elected. Solomon had wisdom, remember? 

It was the elders of each tribe . . . the oldest members of the tribe went to represent them. No campaigns, no ads, no vitriol. The elder is the elder, period. 

But because of the Hebrew concept of "agency" it was understood that these elders were empowered to speak on behalf of their respective members. It was as if every person in Israel was actually there, being heard. 

So the assembly, formed in this way, acted as the equivalent to a mob. But they didn't act like mobs normally do, because the elders were in charge. And no . . . I am not going to explicate on why rule by elders tends to work this way.

Here is the perfect foil to bullies: a kind, wise, beloved ruler.

And the perfect foil to gangs: a representative group of the whole, in the person of the elders. 

Wow. 

So, the solution to bullydom is humility and wisdom. But you don't get wisdom by carrying on with the crowd. You gain wisdom through solitary activities. 

And the solution to ganging up is to send representatives on your behalf. But choose them not based on how attractive they are, or loud, or eloquent, or popular. Choose them based on their years. 

And so we now have some criteria, in sizing up whether or not to follow this leader, or that crowd.

Gangs and Bullies VIII (Park)

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.

 - From John 6

The comparison of people to lemmings seems rather insulting. Lemmings are these mindless, instinctual creatures that just do whatever the other lemmings are doing.

Mama Lemming: Would you jump off a cliff if your lemming friends did?

Little Boy Lemming: Why, yes! Yes, I would!

But how accurate is it, when applied to humans? Well, we have some ways to get around it. We have rationale, logic. We have "facts."

• We're on the right side of history.
• It's the new thing. Everybody's doing it!
• I'm afraid of what they'll do to me if I don't join.

When Jesus called Himself "The Bread of Heaven," and that people that "ate" Him would have eternal life, it just sounded too crazy for some people. I mean . . . they wanted eternal life. But the thought of telling their friends about eating the flesh of Christ, and drinking His blood, just felt weird, awkward. 

So, first, one of them began walking away, and then another, and another. And soon, this crowd of erstwhile disciples were a glommed-up mass of people disappearing over the horizon. 

And as they talked about it to each other in the ensuing days, they just got each other stirred up in anger, and then hate, against The Lord. They became a ready-made crowd, yelling "Crucify Him!"

Crowds that are angry about something, only make themselves more angry, and they very easily and naturally stir up rancor against people that are not present. Crowd behavior, mob behavior, groupthink. It's a bad thing. 

If you join in, in a gossipy session with others, that keep concluding "He's lying," about someone not present . . . then you're close enough to being a lemming that perhaps you'd better get out. 

So, in this series, I've pretty much opened up a couple barrels against crowds and gangs. Tomorrow, the final blow against bullies. 

Gangs and Bullies VII (Park)

For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh.

 - From Ephesians 6

When considered in the backdrop of eternal things - or, the great matters of Life and Death - our daily struggles, our frustrations, and our silly human political maneuverings, seem so pedestrian. 

Our Life and Death struggle has very little to do with how we feel from moment to moment. Our personal insecurities, our cravings and yearnings, our urgency to do something, anything, to solve the world's problems (translation: someone make me feel good!), are like ants compared to the eternal struggle between Good and Evil. And the eternal stakes are: Will humanity live? Or will humanity die?

If we have eternal life, who really cares what our gender is, or how we respond to the biological urge to reproduce, or whether or not the wealthiest people are charitable enough for us? 

Indeed, life is short. We can definitely make it through life, if we focused on others, and not ourselves; if we focused on food for everybody, rather than whether or not I like myself as I am. 

Gain eternal life, and you can probably have what you always wanted in this life. You probably will no longer want it, but you could have it easily, just the same.

These basics, from the Old Testament: Welcome aliens; care for widows and orphans; live a pure lifestyle - - - I think we can make it 70 or 80 years if those are our priorities (and not my own physical, temporal cravings). We can really make it. We can do this. 

Our desperate cravings, our impatience, our hyped-up emotions . . . we respond to them according to our feelings, and see two ways to deal with it:

 - Join a gang
 - Follow a bully

But neither solutions are sufficient because they only feed your problem, rather than helping you deal with it. 

And really - the enemy isn't some human, anyway. It's not a political figure or celebrity. It's not a massive crowd that is certain it's "on the right side of history."

The people in the crowd, and those bullies, are just people, too. They're no better or worse than you and me. The bully is insecure, and so are the people in the crowd. 

Have a little compassion for them. If you've read this far, you probably are better-adjusted than the people I've described. Be kind. They have the same eternal enemy - Death - that you have. We need to try to get on the same side with all the other miserable, lost humans. 

Gangs and bullies aren't the answer. You don't need them. But they might need you. 

Focus on the real enemy. Solve the real problems. Get over yourself and find someone that you can help.

Gangs and Bullies VI (RV)

 . . . He is high above all peoples.

 - From Psalm 99

Curious thing about mass movements (or crowds, or gangs, etc.).

There is no logic to their attitudes or beliefs. They seem to come together, based on an overwhelming emotion that they all share. As individuals, they crave affirmation from others, which for whatever reason, they have not received it from those closest to them. They are individuals that were not supported by their parents; they were overlooked for a promotion; they were jilted by a lover; they had a health, or economic setback. They've had a run-in with a bully . . . 

And of course their emotions get involved. 

It's so hard to do the work involved, and the discipline, to fix these disappointments in life. 

But it is easy to combine with others that are similarly off-kilter, emotionally. With enough numbers, we'll get back at the people that hurt us. 

No self-help guru, or purveyor of eternal wisdom, ever advised seekers to find solace in the arms of a mob.

The mobs affirm one another in their hate towards something, or some one.

They agree, with one another, that they actually fear something terrible, like the world coming to an end. 

And then they define their purpose in grand-sounding terms: "We are opposed to hate and fear."

A crowd, or mob, or gang . . . develops its own personality. It becomes something that the individuals within would never become, on their own: something vicious and random; an instrument of brute force to pursue an end that the mob doesn't even understand. 

In the backroom of a mass movement, is always some calm and collected Controller, pulling the strings . . . using the mob. 

The crowd was formed out of resentment at being at someone else's beck and call . . . and emerges as an even bigger force, at someone's beck and call.

So it is, that when God steps in, peoples tremble.

See that? Peoples, plural. Not just a mob. But a mob of mobs. When God steps in, it always is to get some handle on a crowd that is out of control. But the crowd trembles. Because crowds do not operate according to human calculations. Crowds respond instinctively, as a dog is instantly fearful at the sound of thunder. 

God handles bullies, yes. Usually, He handles them by getting them to repent and change. 

But He has special treatment for mobs, crowds, gangs. They need a sharp, swift jolt to their spirit. They need dispersal, so that He can reason with them. And reasoning happens, one-on-one. 

Judgment comes, and it is addressed to the mass of humanity. 

Let's be careful about joining up in the current movement du jour.

Gangs and Bullies V (RV)

When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.

 - From Exodus 34

I've devoted some time to the topic of "Gangs and Bullies." These are two relevant and timely concepts. All anybody wants to talk about these days, is this bully or that bully. We frame the stories of our lives with tales of the bullies in our past. 

And when faced with a bully, we go find some crowd to protect us. 

I'd rather not give that much credence to stupid bullies. I write my life story so that they don't matter. And then I conduct myself so that neither I, nor those close to me, will ever be troubled by them.

And I disagree that there is strength in numbers. A thousand people that are angry because someone slighted them do not become suddenly right, morally. There's just more of them. I find no satisfaction in getting back at a wrongdoer, just because I found a bunch of similarly offended people. A person's petty anger doesn't become selfless virtue just because he found five hundred other angry, petty people.

It just becomes an accumulated, multiplied, noisy throng of mad people.

Moses had been with God. When he was on the mountain getting the Ten Commandments, it might also have been the same time that he and Elijah were taken and set down in Christ's timeline, for the Transfiguration. At any rate, he had been with God (and maybe with Christ). It had such an effect on him, that his face shone. And as Archie Woods has pointed out . . . our faces give off light. 

Moses' face gave off more light.

Moses came down . . . alone . . . having been with God . . . for forty days and nights . . . and Aaron (his brother), and all of Israel, were afraid.

It seems to me, that the beginning of dealing with bullies is not to join a crowd.

The solution is to do what Moses did. Do what even crowds are afraid of:

Go off with God . . . alone . . . with Him. 

Gangs and Bullies IV (RV)

When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. 

 - From Luke 9

Jesus went to a solitary place to pray.

God walked in the cool of the Garden.

Moses went to the mountain, for 40 days and 40 nights. 

It's axiomatic . . . if you want perspective, wisdom, balance, depth and breadth of understanding . . . then go off on your own. Go into nature. Do without pleasures, and even food, for a period of time. Remove distractions. And then listen.

It would make sense, for people to crave being part of a noisy crowd, in the era of attention deficits. I would bet that if we conducted a scientific study on how frequently people mouth the words: "I'm bored," that it is on the increase over the past generation. We do not like being alone with our thoughts. We can't handle an "awkward" silence. 

To test this out, in conversation, try including a deliberate pause to construct, carefully, your words. See how long the others around you can politely wait for you to finish, without trying to finish your sentence for you, or making a head or hand movement of impatience. 

We do not like silence. And it's gotten worse. And it has made the noise and confusion of a crowd, whether crazy, or angry, very appealing to us. 

What if people in the "Me Too," or "BLM", or any of the "Resistance" movements began to separate themselves out, strictly for the purpose of gaining wisdom and enlightenment? What would Wisdom say to an angry crowd, that demands "What should we do next?" The conventional answer from Wisdom is always: "Maybe you should go home to your families, and make sure they're okay." Or, "Have you called your grandmother today?" Or even "Isn't there a shut-in a half a block from where you live? How is he doing?"

Crowds make noise. But wisdom listens. 

There's a lesson for bullies, too. Bullies are really just angry crowds comprised of one person. Wisdom also says to Bullies: "Go get some peace and quiet for a couple days. No TV. No Sports. No friends. No parties. No School. No beer. Very little food. No talking.

Just listen.

How would it make things in the world better . . . if we all just got out of those gangs, and out of those me-first patterns of thinking . . . and deliberately, and purposefully, listened?

After the Transfiguration experience, you would think there would be spotlights and an adoring crowd surrounding the Son of God. 

You'd think He would be lifted up still, and trumpets blaring and angels attending, and praises ringing. 

But instead . . . Jesus was found alone. They had to kind of go looking for Him. 

And when they found Him, all they found was . . . Jesus. Just like He had always been.

Alone. 

The answer to the crowd impulse, and to the magnetism of bullies is: go off by yourself. 

Because when you're alone . . . this is where the Master can find you.