November 3, 2004 - Something to remember

The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
   Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
   Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
   Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
   Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
   Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
   Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
   Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
   Build anyway.
9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
   Help people anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
    Give the world the best you have anyway.

Today, I thought about these as I watched the presidential election go. I sat, sometimes happy, sometimes in abject terror. Today, these commandments really speak to me. They call out to me in a strange way that just seems wrong. It's amusing.

I've watched people's reactions. They're hurt and angry that the country chose Bush. They don't understand. I refer to commandment one above. 

They worked hard, fought hard, and still lost. I refer them to commandment 2.

They were riding high, but feel betrayed by the Youth Vote, or the electoral college. I refer them to number 3.

They want to run away to Canada and forget about the past. I refer them to number four.

They are angry that they put their integrity on the line and were shot down. I refer them to commandment five.

They call their opponents "small minded". I refer them to 6.

They believe that the underdog should have won. I refer to number seven.

They believe everything is destroyed. I refer to number 8.

They have worked to help everything and been bitten. I refer to number nine.

They have given it all, and now they have no teeth left to be kicked. I refer them to commandment 10.

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What does this have to do with the Clergy? I don't know. But it comforts me, and it reminds me that optimism is a desirable trait. I pray I'll always be just like this.

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