Thursday, September 6, 2012

Do It Anyway


People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered,
Love 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,
Suceed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you,
Be honest 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.

This was written in 1968 by Dr. Kent M. Keith as part of a booklet for student leaders while he was at Harvard University.   If you look at the following link you may read about Mother Teresa's connection with this poem. http://www.kentmkeith.com/mother_teresa.html   Many have Mother Teresa credited  as the author, because this was discovered on the wall of her bedroom when she died.  Imagine how thrilled Dr. Keith must have been when he found out that Mother Teresa loved his words so much that she had them beside her every day for inspiration.
 
In 1968 when this was written, the United States of America was in such a turmoil.   Vietnam, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy, the student protests...it was such a turbulent time.    It was because of the negative feelings around him that Dr. Keith wrote this poem, and tried to inspire good leadership.  I think this positive energy is very much needed today.

20 comments:

  1. I came across this many years ago but do not really know the history behind it. With the confusion, turmoil and mishaps happening around us, it is best to continue being positive and never getting distracted with how beautiful we see the world :)

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    1. And thank you for being the positive person that you are, it shows! Somehow if you are positive, you are more open to beauty.

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  2. That's a great poem. I've never read it before. Thank you!

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    1. Happy to share it and glad that you like it too!

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  3. 1968 was incidentally the year of my birth :-)

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    1. I knew that! :-)Sorry that the year that welcomed little Mieke was a very tough time in America. I was just a kid but I remember it very well. I just saw a documentary about the 1968 election and Hubert Humphrey, and I was surprised at much I knew about that year just from my memory. Looks like my observations on life started early!

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  4. I suppose this should make me feel old. I have read the poem a number of times, without thinking about its source. 1968 was the maelstrom of international and national insanity but this poem is rooted in absolute sanity. If we follow this poem, we return to what God created us to be.

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    1. Thanks, Dennis Evans!
      So pleased to see your comment here!
      The first time that I read this poem, I could sense the good theology behind it. Since you are a pastor, I thank you for confirming it.

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  5. I've never read this before, either.It's hard to stay positive all the time, but reading this helps!

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    1. I love this and also "Desiderata" which I wrote about on an earlier post. And don't even get me started on how much I love the Bible and The Book of Common Prayer (and I understand that in England, many churches have replaced the Book of Common Prayer with a little leaflet!)

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  6. Lovely poem, Kay. We can always use positive energy. And so many places around the world are in need of it.

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    1. Dear Martha,
      Thanks. Do you know the song "Let There Be Peace On Earth (And Let It Begin With Me)"? That is so true!

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  7. I followed the link, and what an amazing story. How strange it must have been for Dr Keith hearing his own words, then to discover how they came to be read out at a Rotary Club meeting! They are very inspirational words.

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    1. Tracey,
      You are like me, we love the history and background on things, don't we? I find that often life is more complex and interesting than can be shown in a little 15 minute segment on TV. And I like the stories that are moving and inspirational.

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  8. Thank you, yes, i know i can use this.

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    1. Dear Mimi,
      With all the work that you do with those rescued kitties, you should take them to heart. God bless you in your good work.

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  9. We need it now more than ever. Thanks for sharing the poem and its history.

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    1. Hey Connie!
      The whole world needs a shot of B positive!

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  10. Amen. Reminds me of a conversation I had with Sophie last night. I may post about that next week. Thank you for sharing this! It's so important....all of these things....

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    1. It's funny you say that, when I read that poem for the first time, it reminded me so much of the times that I told my son to not be upset by unfairness in school and the favoritism that was shown. Just do what was right and to get on with it.

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