One line sermons
By BILL DUNCAN
Elderstatesman
I receive too many unwanted forwards on this magic box called a computer. Every now and then one comes through that is a keeper, like the forward called 7% that I got from Charles Becherer, a hospice volunteer with me at the VA in Roseburg. Charlie is the most unassuming individual I think I have ever met. A quiet thinker, but a doer.
The content of 7%, a power print presentation, is a case in point.
Mark Twain once said: “Few sinners are saved after the first 20 minutes of a sermon.” Much truth in that statement because honestly of all the sermons I have heard in 80 plus years the one I remember is when in the celebrant said he wasn’t going to deliver a sermon that steaming August morning in Southern California but would only leave us with a message: “This would be a cold day in hell.” He needed to say no more.
Because of space considerations, I will only highlight some of the one-line sermons in the message from 7%, so named because it says only 7% of the recipients will forward the message to others. But trust me it is powerful.
Since I can’t even begin to describe the wonders of this power point presentation, which has a soothing musical background against exquisite snow scenes somewhere in Scandinavia, I suspect. It is so freely posted on the Internet, I don’t think it is copyrighted, but I checked and could not verify that. It is listed multiple times at this site:
45lesonsinlife-091118003935-phpapp02.pps
It’s worth a peek.
Those 45 Lessons in Life are mini sermons that no eloquent preacher could achieve in such a short recitation. Space considerations prevent me from listing all 45 lessons, but here are the ones that touched me, beginning with number one:
“Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.”
“Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.”
“You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.”
“Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.”
“It’s all right to let your children see you cry.”
“It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.”
“Make peace with your past so it doesn’t screw up your future.”
“If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.”
“Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry, God never blinks.”
“It is never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.”
“Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.”
“Frame every disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will it matter?’”
“Forgive everyone everything.”
“Believe in miracles.”
“Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it.
“If we threw all our problems in a pile and we saw everyone’s else’s, we’d grab ours back.”
“Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it is still a gift.”
“No matter how you feel, get up, get dressed and show up.”
“Life is too short to hate anyone.”
“Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.”
“Your children only have one childhood.”
“All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.”
“Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.”
My fumbling words can’t possibly do justice to this beautiful power print presentation. I have put it in my favorites in the storehouse of my computer’s brain and call it to the screen whenever I start feeling sorry for myself. It is a spiritual retreat.
(Bill Duncan can be reached at bduncan@nrtoday.com or by writing to P.O. Box 812, Roseburg, OR 97470.)
August 27th, 2010 at 6:21 am
It was well worth a peek. Thanks