MORE THAN PAPER AND WORDS!
July 1, 2025
Routinely I ask myself if I am living what I profess. When I sing our national anthem or say the Pledge of Allegiance, I think of the words I am saying or singing and what those words mean. I also think about the meaning of the sentence “IN GOD WE TRUST” on our dollar bills and what those words represent. As I read, recite or sing these words, I envision the sacrifices made by countless men and women who fought and died to unselfishly demonstrate their commitment to our country and these very same words.
As a kid, I took remedial math and reading so I know as an adult I don’t understand some things and sometimes I get confused at what I hear or read. However, there is one thing that I don’t get confused about and that is that you should live what you profess. Candidly, I have strived my entire life to avoid anyone ever having any justification or reason to call me what I refer to as the biblical “H Word:” Hypocrite.
One of my favorite biblical scriptures is “the Word became flesh.” I understand this to mean much more than what most Christians believe. I understand it to mean what people of all faiths believe, which is we all have some sort of “moral compass” that guides us internally and forms our values and beliefs and greatly influences our actions.
It’s my perception that all religions offer insight into what qualities we should be developing. Recently I came across an article that listed several principles shared by all religions and I would like to share with you some of them:
– The Golden Rule / Law of Reciprocity – Honor Thy Father and Mother
– It’s More Blessed to Give than Receive – Speak the Truth
– Love Thy Neighbor / Conquer with Love – Blessed Are the Peacemakers
– You Reap What You Sow – Man Does Not Live by Bread Alone
– Follow the Spirit of the Scriptures – Forgiveness
– Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged – Be Slow to Anger
– There is But One God / God is Love – Do No Harm
The next time you hear or sing a patriotic or religious song or recite the Pledge of Allegiance or a prayer, please join me in some soul-searching thoughts regarding what the words truly mean. With God’s favor, may the printed or recited words we profess have real meaning and may we uphold the meaning by our positive and intentional actions. God Bless America and all our global neighbors. May our words become flesh!
PS: For over 30 years, the following framed document has hung in my office closet and I periodically take time to reread it. I want to share with you these words that I consider to be wisdom:
PARADOXICAL COMMANDMENTS OF LEADERSHIP
- 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.
Written by KING AEROSPACE Founder, Jerry Allan King-Echevarria.