Anyway

The Pardoxical Commandments were written in 1968 by Dr. Kent Keith as part of a booklet for student leaders. They have often been attributed, incorrectly, to Mother Teresa. She did not write them, but she did find them important enough that she put them on the wall of her children's home in Calcutta.

For the last 52 years, the "commandments" have circled the globe and have been read by millions of people. They have been posted on walls and refrigerators, included in speeches and sermons, and over the few decades, shared extensively over the internet. In light of the current state of affairs in our world today, I thought it might be helpful to share them with you once more, anyway.

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

If you are kind, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind 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 I will add, in this crazy season of 2020: It's a confused, hurting, scared, divisive, angry and unkind world out there. Let's love them with the love of Christ, anyway.

May the Lord bless you and use you this week as you serve Him and serve others according to the paradoxical truths of His kingdom, anyway. I am praying for you, as I hope you are for me, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken