Today is my first Father's Day without a father of my own. It's just one more opportunity for me to conjure up some good memories. And that's easy to do. Recently, I came across Dad's hand-written Ten Commandments and sent them to my siblings. My brother, of course, reminded me of the original fifteen, and Dad would have loved the association with Mel Brooks.
Here are Dad's Ten. And if anyone lived by these, he did. He never passed up an opportunity to sit down with someone whose views he may not have shared prepared to be persuaded--but only if the other point of view somehow worked better for him. And listen he did--always respectfully, I might add.
1. Thou shalt open thine eyes to perceive the "round about."
2. Thou shalt create meaning.
3. Thou shalt care deeply and lovingly for thyself.
4. Thou shalt have care and compassion for all other "thous."
5. Thou shalt learn the rules which enable life to be corporate so that creatures may survive.
6. Thou shalt sing and laugh and take great pleasure.
7. Thou shalt be with others for others without "using" them against their interests.
8. Thou shalt gather together with those who share similar attitudes and meanings to reinforce thine own.
9. Thou shalt gather with others who differ from thee to learn from them.
10. Thou shalt create visions of great good.
Dad was one of a kind. He will always be remembered.
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| Dad at Nantes Cathedral, France |
Here are Dad's Ten. And if anyone lived by these, he did. He never passed up an opportunity to sit down with someone whose views he may not have shared prepared to be persuaded--but only if the other point of view somehow worked better for him. And listen he did--always respectfully, I might add.
1. Thou shalt open thine eyes to perceive the "round about."
2. Thou shalt create meaning.
3. Thou shalt care deeply and lovingly for thyself.
4. Thou shalt have care and compassion for all other "thous."
5. Thou shalt learn the rules which enable life to be corporate so that creatures may survive.
6. Thou shalt sing and laugh and take great pleasure.
7. Thou shalt be with others for others without "using" them against their interests.
8. Thou shalt gather together with those who share similar attitudes and meanings to reinforce thine own.
9. Thou shalt gather with others who differ from thee to learn from them.
10. Thou shalt create visions of great good.
Dad was one of a kind. He will always be remembered.
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