Snyder, George L Snyder, Lenore Snyder, God, ethics, morals, religion

The Elephant Speaks
One Man’s Elephant book II

My Ten Commandments

 

1.         Forgive.

            Forgive your family. Forgive your friends. Forgive your neighbors. Forgive your enemies. You must do this first before you can serve God.

 

2.         Live in the presence of God.

            God is present. Live accordingly. See God watching you. Smell God smelling you. Feel God touching you. Hear God hearing you. God is always watching you. God is always listening to you. God is. God is always. You are never out of God’s sight. You are never out of God’s hearing. Even if you don’t believe in God, live as though you do.

 

3.         Pray - Meditate.

            Pray and meditate not because God wants it. Pray and meditate because you need it. Pray and meditate because you benefit. Save one day in seven for your soul. Your spirit needs the change from your normal daily routine. Hold God in your heart. God holds you in His heart. Your servants must also have this time to rebuild their souls. Animals also have the soul of life that was given by God. It is your duty to give them proper care and rest. Even your machines need care.

 

4.         Respect all others.

            They are created by God. They are loved by God. They are children of God. Their existence is desired by God or He would not have created them. Harm no one. Hurt no one. Protect everyone. Protect especially the small, the weak, the helpless. To take advantage of one who is weaker, separates you from God.

 

5.         Respect the property and work of others.

            Give fair pay for fair work. Give fair work for fair pay. Give fair goods for fair goods. If there is any question, give more. Be more than fair. What God has placed in the hands of others is not for you to touch. All things are created by God and belong to God. When your time is over, you go before God naked, with empty hands. The treasure you build here will be left behind.

 

6.         Keep your honor, ethics, integrity, morals.

            These are the only things you retain when your time is done. No one can remove these from you. Only you can lose or corrupt them. This is how you build your soul. Keep your honor, ethics, integrity, and morals in all things, in all actions.

 

7.         Speak only good.

            Say nothing that is hurtful. Say nothing that is harmful. Say only loving and comforting words. Even if no one can hear, God hears. The evil spread by gossip, petty remarks, and cruel jokes can never be undone. Before you speak, ask yourself if these words said this way bring you closer to God or separate you further from God. Use only proper words. Do not use foul language. Do not tolerate hurtful thoughts.

 

8.         Exercise your talents.

            Your skills, your abilities, your strengths; are not yours. They are only loaned to you. They are loaned to you from God. When God calls your talents back to himself, return them well used and used well.

 

9.         Care for God’s people.

            Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Heal the sick. Visit the prisoner. Be with one who is lonely. It does not require iron bars or concrete walls to make a prison. Some are prisoners within their own minds. Care for those who are poor in resources or spirit. Care for those in need regardless of the need. Discover the needs and fill them. Help in whatever way you can.

 

10.       Love.

            After you have followed all the above, you can do this. First though, you must follow all the preceding commands. This may be the greatest command because it is the most difficult. It is the most difficult because all of the above are included within it, required for it. There is no restriction on God’s love. Let there be no restriction on your love. Love your family. Love your friends. Love your neighbors. Love your enemies. Love all of God’s creation.





            Follow these practices and something great happens to you. Something great happens to your soul. Something great but undefinable. Something that brings peace. Something that brings joy. Something that brings a balance into your life. Something that brings Heaven to you.





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