ANYWAY

A friend of mine suggested I read the book “Anyway” (Kent M. Keith).  If you haven’t ever read it you need to.  I loved it and it was a good short read.  It was written in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders.  The Paradoxical Commandments have circled the world for over 30 years.  They have been added to speeches, hung on refrigerators and put on walls.  Mother Teresa used this thought provoking collection of words on the walls of her children’s home.  These commandments have touched many lives and changed many lives. 

As I began to read the very first sentence said, “ The Paradoxical Commandments are a personal declaration of independence from all the external factors we can’t control.  We don’t have to depend on the external world for meaning and happiness.  We can find them in our inner lives.”  What a great time to be reading about the personal declaration of independence during the celebration of independence of our country. 

Just as our country gained its independence we have our own independence.  No matter what others do, no matter what others say, no matter how others hurt us, love them anyway.  We are independent of how others treat us; others shouldn’t affect the way we feel.  This is what Jesus told us to do with His two great commandments.  We should love God and love our neighbor.  We don’t find our independence through the outside world.  We find our independence by allowing the Lord to live within us and lead our steps.

The last paragraph of the commandments states,

 “The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; 
Do good anyway. 
Give the world your best anyway. 
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; 
It was never between you and them anyway.”

Even though we are independent we are and should be dependent on God.  Our lives are between Him and us.  God helps us find meaning in life.  He guides us and enables us to love anyway.  He helps us to press on when we feel we can’t move forward.  He does all of this because no matter what we do He loves us anyway. 

God bless America! No matter what happens give the world the best you have ANYWAY!

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13  New International Version (NIV)

12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.