Jerusalem is under a thick coat of snow, and snowmen pop up at every corner. While I get ready to leave this crazy land, I like to remind myself that as human beings we crave for love and meaning in this mad world. The poetic text that follows came to me at the right moment, and I share with you as a reminder that we can shut our heart away in a little box, or we can open that box and let all that love flow out. I guess it’s really up to us, and there are no easy answers.

The Paradoxical Commandments by Kent M. Keith

“People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.”

― Kent M. Keith, The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council

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p.s. Snowmen will melt. Build them anyway.

That’s it I guess from me this year, see you around in 2014…