On garments, seasons, and the burden of choosing

23:1

In that winter, which was mild but uncertain,

a young man chose to wear no clothes.

23:2

He was broad of shoulder and steady of breath,

and his work bent iron and earth alike.

23:3

Some said,

"He is strong, but foolish."

23:4

Others said,

"He tempts sickness."

23:5

A few said nothing,

and watched.

23:6

When this was brought to Christopher,

he did not ask about the weather.

23:7

He asked instead,

"Does he choose this freely?"

23:8

They answered,

"Yes."

23:9

Christopher said,

"Then our task is not to correct him,

but to stand with him."

23:10

Some objected,

"You taught us to live without shame."

23:11

"And now he lives so openly

that others are unsettled."

23:12

Christopher replied,

"Shame does not disappear

by being avoided."

23:13

"It disappears when it is refused."

23:14

A woman asked,

"Would you forbid him?"

23:15

Christopher answered,

"No."

23:16

A man asked,

"Would you command others to follow?"

23:17

Christopher answered,

"No."

23:18

He said,

"Commands belong to fear."

23:19

"And fear is not our teacher."

23:20

"When I laid aside my clothes,

it was because shame demanded them of me."

23:21

"When I took them up again,

it was because the world asked something else."

23:22

"One voice lied.

The other spoke plainly."

23:23

The young man worked through the winter as he chose.

23:24

And others his age began to do the same.

23:25

No meeting was called.

23:26

No rule was written.

23:27

Some dressed as before.

23:28

Some did not.

23:29

No one was turned away from the table.

23:30

No work was denied.

23:31

The town remained at peace.

23:32

And many remembered only this:

23:33

That Christopher did not stop them.

23:34

Nor did he join them.

23:35

And they argued afterward

about what that meant.

23:36

But not about how to live together.