Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments and life itself is grace. –Frederick Buechner
Greetings Gentle Reader. A few days ago my long-time friend, Steve, shared a talk he delivered to a gathering at his home-town YMCA. I was deeply moved by his words and asked him if I could post the first few paragraphs as I wanted to share with you the “Rules for a Perfect Day.” So, Gentle Reader, I invite you to read, savor and reflect upon these ‘Rules.’ Prior to the ‘Rules’ I offer you a bit of a context.
My friend, Steve, writes:
I was a nine-year old Richmond kid when my father handed me a small printed card that was entitled “Rules for a Perfect Day”. I don’t know where he got it but it was important enough to him that he wanted his son to have a copy. You might have heard some of these “rules” before…maybe in a different form. I have kept that now-laminated card very close by for the past 63 years.
My father was one of those special men who was part of what has been called the “Greatest Generation”…men who fought and won a bloody war in dangerous places around the globe. The lucky ones returned home, most of them got married, started their careers and started their families. My father never talked with me about his WWII experiences in the Pacific or his time on Mindanao.
And my father rarely talked with me about theology, church doctrine, or things religious. I sense that his focus on the rules written on that little card was his best effort to communicate with me about his faith, about how he tried to live his life, and how he hoped I would try to live my life.
Here are the key rules from my Father’s Perfect Day card:
•Today I will invest my time and energy on my faith, my family, service to others, and earned success through hard work.
•Today I will love people and use things…I will not love things and use people.
•I will try to live through this day only and not tackle all of my life problems and challenges at once. I can do some things for 12 hours that would overwhelm me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
•I will be happy and seek joy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their mind to be.” Happiness and joy are from within; they are not a matter of externals.
•I will exercise my soul in three ways:
-First…I will do someone a good turn today and not get found out. If anyone knows, it will not count.
-Next…I will do at least two things today I don’t want to do, just for the exercise of will-power.
-Finally…I will not show anyone my feelings are hurt. They may be hurt, but today I will not show it.
•I will have a quiet half hour by myself today so I can have a deep conversation with God…so as to get a little perspective in my life.
•I will be unafraid today, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe I am loved…by God and those I love.
Searcher-Seeker 