Decalogue

A number of people have been asking me for the modern translation of the Ten Commandments that I read in worship yesterday. I think this is the work of Barbara Brown-Taylor. Here they are:

One. You shall have no other gods before me...other gods cannot do anything for you. I am the one who brought you out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God, and you shall not give anyone else my place in your hearts.

Two. No more golden calves. You look silly bowing down to little statues that you yourselves have made, and besides, you don't need them. [They don't serve you.] You have me.

Three. Don't throw my name around. My name is a very personal thing, and the fact that you know mine at all is a sign of our closeness. Do not abuse the privilege.

Four. Keep the Sabbath, not for my sake but for yours. One day a week, stop working and remember that you are more than what you do.

Five. Honor your father and mother. Whatever job they did on you, they are your roots. Lose them and you will lose your place in the story.

Six. Don't murder. However dubious it may seem to you, all life is precious to me, including yours. Until you can make it, don't take it.

Seven. Don't mess around with marriage vows, your own or anyone else's. Sticking with one person is the best chance you have got of growing up.

Eight. Don't take what doesn't belong to you. Life may not be fair, but that doesn't mean that you [don't have] to be.

Nine. Don't give your word on things you know aren't true. Your word is as much a part of you as your arm or your leg. Twist it and you will limp. Why would you want to do that to yourself?

Ten. Don't fondle other people's things in your mind as if they were your own. You'll not only resent them for having things; you'll soon resent yourself for not having them too. Learn to want what you have and pretty soon you will have what you want.

It was a nice morning for a run. Lots of the kids from Millard West were out. I would pass them on the trail and then they would take the road less traveled and get ahead of me. I would pass them again on the trail until they would use their resourcefulness and mountaineering skills to exceed my raw talent and gritty determination.

Anyway, I ran 13.1 miles. Somebody left me a liter of cold water and a breakfast cookie on my car. Thanks to whoever it was!

In the evening I did the Giles hills from 168th Street to about 198th Street with Brad -- pound for pound one of the best hill runners around. Nice run tonight. Giles is a very hilly course and the gravel feels good on the feet. We finished in the dark, picked up Benjamin, and went to Sonic for some ice cream.