Shade Tree Wisdom 3/5/13

            In 1997 the late Dr. Richard Carlson wrote a little book titled, “Don’t sweat the small stuff . . . it’s all small stuff.”  The book has 100 ideas to make our lives better and richer without letting each little thing become an upsetting item for us.  His suggestions make sense.

            Then I read an article where a woman hesitated to trust the repair of her car to a shop that had this title as a motto.  She felt mechanics ought to be trained to attend to the “small stuff”, the nut properly tightened, the brakes correctly set and tested, the tire pressure where it ought to be.  And she is right.

            “Don’t sweat the small stuff” can be good advice when it refers to a dropped chip or a knocked over drink, but used carelessly it can do harm, for then it can become rationale for taking hotel towels home, or office stationary.

            The news is filled with  stories of theft, smash and grab seems rampant, cell phones often are stolen from careless owners, and the ones who do this often justify their action by saying, “they can get a new one, they have the money”.

            If your honor is worth no more than some price of “small stuff", remember the cost can be very high in the end.  Ben Franklin said, “A little neglect may breed great mischief."

            I end with this
                        In vain we call old notions fudge,
                        And bend our conscience to our dealing.
                        The Ten Commandments will not budge,
                        And stealing will continue stealing.”

            So the best advice, use perspective in daily life, try to see the matter from the other side, and always deal with love and compassion.  You are a Child of God.

GPD 3/5/13