Several years ago, Bishop Abel Muzorewa wrote a letter to some of his pastors in Zimbabwe, in which he offered a kind of benediction for their work. Twice now I have used these words as a benediction for our worship here at First Church, and each time I have folks asking for a copy, saying that it spoke to their experience and to their heart.
Here, then, is the “good word” from Bishop Muzorewa:
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love people 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!
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway!
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest person with the smallest ideas.
Think big anyway!
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway!
People really need help, but may attack you if you help them.
Help people anyway!
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the best you’ve got anyway!
My prayer is that here at First Church we will find the courage -together – to give the world the best we’ve got, knowing that our best is God’s gift of grace.
Blessings,
Rev. Donna
