crazy
I was recently given a book by a friend entitled “The Paradoxical Commandments” by Kent M. Keith. The crazy thing is that he published the book over twenty years ago and yet still today, his work is relevant. His words have been used by Mother Teresa, teachers throughout America and used as a theme to graduating classes at universities. He penned the words in the hope that people would find personal meaning in a crazy world.
Interestingly enough, many of his statements are mirrors of what the bible tells us about how to live in a world that is counterculture. Here they are:
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 ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
People 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.
And so, the author shares that if we work to bring hope and meaning to each day, our impact will be powerful and be long-lasting. Jesus tells us that if we find life in Him, there is hope for the future, the present and even from the past. God transforms us, loves us, gives us a purpose and redeems us. So, as believers, our hope is solid - good for eternity. The Word - the bible is relevant to today and crazy as it is - it has humanity’s story - from the beginning of time in Genesis to the end in Revelation. It’s worth the read!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5