Just Be Yourself
This is a short but important parable. Its something that I'm only just learning for myself and encourage others to discover the same lesson.
A rabbi named Zusya died and went to stand before the judgment seat of God. As he waited for God to appear, he grew nervous thinking about his life and how little he had done. He began to imagine that God was going to ask him, "Why werent you Moses or why werent you Solomon or why werent you David?" But when God appeared, the rabbi was surprised.
God simply asked, "Why weren't you Zusya?"
"Live long and prosper – err, just be yourself."
12 Things I Learned When I Was 12
I've recently written a couple of posts about things (life lessons) that we 'learn' at various times in our lives and wanted to share some fundamentals that are with me every day and that, I guess are so engrained, that I forgot to mention them. I should have begun with these.
These are principles that I learned in Boy Scouts and ones that serve to form the basis for many of the ideals that I carry with me – so much so, that I take them for granted. They form the foundation by which I try to live, by which I conduct my personal life, by which I've tried to raise my children, and by which I try to conduct myself in business.
I found this narrative on the BSA web site and really like the Christian connection and the Biblical references. I thought it better than anything I could have written and that it really expressed how I felt; especially, the bigger connection these had with my faith-based life. So, here are the Twelve Points of the Scout Law – Twelve Principles by which we all should try to live.
A Scout is TRUSTWORTHY
The person who is dishonest shall not live in My house; the person who is untruthful shall not stand before My eyes.
(Psalms 101:7)
A Scout is LOYAL
And Ruth said: Do not beg me to leave you or to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay.
(Ruth 1:16)
A Scout is HELPFUL
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
(Leviticus 19:18)
A Scout is FRIENDLY
Can two walk together unless they agree?
(Amos 3:3)
A Scout is COURTEOUS
Honor your father and your mother.
(Exodus 20:12)
A Scout is KIND
Withhold not good from the person to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
(Proverbs 3:27)
A Scout is OBEDIENT
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
(Proverbs 23:12)
A Scout is CHEERFUL
A glad heart is good medicine.
(Proverbs 17:22)
A Scout is THRIFTY
Precious treasure remains in a wise person's dwelling, but a foolish person uses it up.
(Proverbs 21:20)
A Scout is BRAVE
Be strong and of good courage.
(I Chronicles 28:20)
A Scout is CLEAN
Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? The person who has clean hands and a pure heart.
(Psalms 24:3-4)
A Scout is REVERENT
It has been told to you what is good, and what the Lord requires of you; Only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
(Micah 6:8)
