Yes, aren’t we all?

“I wake expectant, hoping to see a new thing.” ~ Annie Dillard ~

It’s been said when people critize, it is more telling of their own insecurities, inadequacies and issues than, perhaps, they’d want known. I know this to be true in my own life situations and circumstances. When I’m the most insecure, discouraged and depressed, I’m the most critical. I’ve had to learn to let things go, giving them up, time and again, to God because He alone knows my intentions. It’s difficult, horrible even, to be open, transparent because people may say they want honesty and transparency, but truly they do not and when they get it, they push back, hard, or disappear with no explanation. Over the course of this blog, there have been many, many times I’ve been transparently honest and it’s come back to bite me in the “blessed assurance”. Dave told me I’m Charlie Brown with the football being held by Lucy.

ouch.

Mother Teresa has been given credit (because they were placed on the wall of her orphanage), it was actually Kent M. Keith, in 1968, who came up with the ten “Paradoxical Commandments”. He attended Harvard College at a time when there was great studen upheaval, unrest, turbulent times and violence.  As a sophmore, he told his fellow students, “The challenge is to always do what is right and good and true, even if others don’t appreciate it.” He summarized his challenge with the Paradoxical Commandments, here.

“People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. 

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest idea can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.

Peoople favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.”

ANYWAY.

Do.

Love.

Help.

Give.

Succeed.

Fight.

Be.

Build.

Think.

ANYWAY.

Live for the applause of One.

“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and. there remember that your brother has anything against you, … be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Maatthew 5:23-24