"Anyway, Part I"

On a recent CD by the Roche Sisters, "Zero Church," among the collection of prayers from around the world they put to music was something Sister Theresa had posted on the wall of her Hospice in India. It called "Anyway."

Not long after the CD came out, the original, long-forgotten author of the piece contacted them to thank the sisters for putting his ideas to music. It turned out that he had been a student during the sixties, and was deeply troubled by the violence and conflict of the times. Through his college years, he remained an activist, and eventually came to believe that the only thing that could head the apocalypse off at the pass was what he called a "Silent Revolution." Much like Maria Montessori, a century ago, he believed that the people capable of changing the world through such a "Silent Revolution" were the ones in school, so as part of a handbook he wrote for High School Student Council Members, he included what he called the "The Paradoxical Commandments."

Somehow, these commandments, directed at high school students, morphed into a prayer, and ended up on many walls in many community centers, churches, missions, and schools.

Remember, the next time we are grappling with funding staff for the High School, that these ideas were meant for High School students:

The Paradoxical Commandments, 1-5


1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

Continued next e-mail