soupornuts contribution to the Desiderata series

October 2, 2007 · Posted in Choices, Inspiration, Motivation 

Bob Clubbs at “every,every minute” initiated and organized a group of bloggers to participate in the discussion of Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata (a poem/philosophy). The idea was to have a blogger choose which verse that he or she would like to discuss and then beginning on Oct. 1, post each author’s ideas.

I chose to write about the 2nd verse which you see below. Please visit the Desiderata project to see everyone’s contribution. I am sure that you will be enlightened. My thanks go out to Bob for both his idea and the opportunity to be involved.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

We spend about 85% or our time thinking about ourselves and only 15% thinking about the other 99.999999% of the people on this planet. Simply stated, our priorities are all about “ourselves”. Could it be that we are a bit self-consumed? Perhaps it is because of this fact that most people are so self-involved, that when we cross paths with someone who’s agenda (if they have an agenda) it more directed to the service of others, that we are fascinated.

People like:

  • Albert Schweitzer

  • Mother Theresa

  • Ghandi

  • Martin Luther King Jr.

…understood and demonstrated that in order to be “on good terms with all persons”, you must become involved in the lives of those persons. We must lose or at least stifle our desire to be “self-centered”.

“to be on good terms with all persons”, you and I must treat people like the valuable individuals that they are.

1. You treat people like you see them – if you value them, then you treat them as if they were valuable to you.

You look people in the eye when they are speaking, because you respect them. It’s hard to look a homeless person in the eye, isn’t it? That’s because we are so quick to judge them as unworthy of our respect. We think of them as the dregs of society and we are quick to label them as worthless parasites who are bleeding the system dry.

The truth is that in most cases, they are real people just like you and I. Their problem or situation simply (or complexly) got out of hand. Do you really think that homeless people choose to be homeless? Have some compassion. If you want the situation to change then change your involvement in the situation. Charity begins with you and me.

In giving rights to others which belong to them, we give rights to ourselves and to our country.

—-John F. Kennedy—-

He that does good for good’s sake seeks neither paradise nor reward, but he is sure of both in the end.

—-William Penn—-

2. You listen to what others have to say – because you realize that their perspective, like your own, is unique and worthy.

No one looks at every situation in the same way that you do. How boring would that be? I doubt that anyone would have tackled this verse the same way that I have. It’s all a matter of perspective. Your view (or mine) is neither right nor wrong – it’s just different.

When you begin to understand that everyone has their own unique views, you begin to experience the kaleidoscope of life. Then maybe you can understand that being different is really what makes us alike.

Take the trouble to stop and think of the other person’s feelings, his viewpoints, his desires and needs. Think more of what the other fellow wants and how he must feel.

—-Maxwell Maltz—-

3. When you value people – you want to help.

We live in an age of consumerism. We want more, bigger, better and costlier “things”. But in our mad rush to acquire, we don’t give a thought to who gets trampled in our mad dash to have the most.

This doesn’t pertain to you? Have you purchased anything that was produced by child or sweatshop labor? Look at your clothes, shoes and furnishings. Can you really be so naive as to think that your “good” deal didn’t cost some foreign laborer a good bit more than mere money?

Until you and I are willing to say no to these practices, by refusing to save a few pennies or dollars at the expense of human life and dignity, then we are not “on good terms with all persons.”

I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.

—-Pablo Casals—-

I pity the man who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth will starve in the process.

—-Benjamin Harrison—-

4. We are not our bodies!

We are spiritual creatures having a physical experience. When you consider that every person is a spiritual being, it changes everything.

We are no longer defined by what we look like. Instead, it is the quality of our character that tells the world who we are and what we believe in.

We can only reach the apex of understanding and be “on good terms with all persons”, when the application of the golden rule is the guiding principle of our lives.

It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

—-Ralph Waldo Emerson—-

He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured his own.

—-Confucius—-

“As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all person”

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