My Brothers,

National Public Radio has a series called "This I Believe" where listeners are invited to submit essays of what they believe and some are selected to be aired nationally. This got me thinking about just what I believe and what it means to me. Below is the beginning of my list (in my life the word friend also encompasses Brother):

I believe a birth certificate shows that we were born; a death certificate shows that we died; pictures show that we lived.
I believe - That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, doesn't mean they do.
I believe - That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I believe - That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while, and you must forgive them for that.
I believe - That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I believe - That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I believe - That evil does triumph if good men do nothing.
I believe - That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I believe - That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
I believe - That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I believe - That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I believe - That money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I believe - That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I believe - That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I believe - That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. You have to learn to forgive yourself.
I believe - That no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I believe - That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I believe - Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I believe - That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you. you will find the strength to help.
I believe - That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I believe - That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
I believe - The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.
I believe - The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.
So mote it be.
What does your list look like?

Fraternally,
Frank
Frank E. Rich
Master