Monday, June 3, 2013

Do It Anyway

Last week, I wrote about the loss of our beloved and inspiring Senior Pastor J. David Panther.
Yesterday we attended his memorial service. It was a place filled with love. Never before have I experienced, at the very same time, feelings of heartbreak, hope and inspiration.

Below is a poem that was printed and on display at the front of the church. It is attributed to Mother Teresa. It was read beautifully by our discipleship director, Rob Gillgrist who is one of our team traveling to Honduras this summer.

These words seem lovely and inspiring. Something one might pin to their wall, read once or twice, even try once or twice. Then mostly likely we forget about them, walk past the frame on the wall. Perhaps, if one is dedicated, one might even remember a couple of the lines and practice those ones often.

I am blessed to be able to say, I watched all of these words lived out by David. These are not impossible words, but acts to work on every day. These are words of bold compassion, are they not? Perhaps we can try to live by all of them every day.

Who is up for the challenge?

      People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;     Forgive them anyway.      If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;     Be kind anyway.      If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;     Succeed anyway.      If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;     Be honest and frank anyway.      What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;     Build anyway.      If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;     Be happy anyway.      The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;     Do good anyway.      Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;     Give the world the best you've got anyway.      You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;     It was never between you and them anyway.

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