Moving Beyond ‘A Touch But Not a Change’

The following thoughts and musings by an unknown author have been in my files for some time. I think this week is perfect for sharing them with you. These musings have circulated on the Internet and have blessed and encouraged countless people. The piece is called "I Believe." Read on.

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I believe that a birth certificate shows that we were born. A death certificate shows that we died. Pictures show that we lived! I believe that it doesn't mean they don't love each other just because two people argue. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other. 

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, every once and a while, they're going to hurt you, and you must forgive them for that. I believe that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. I believe that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

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 you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I believe that often the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. 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 you control your attitude, or your attitude will control you. I believe that money is a lousy way of keeping score. I believe that on occasions 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 it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you need to learn to forgive yourself. I believe that no matter how badly your heart is broken, the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I believe that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up. 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 our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever. I believe that two people can look at exactly the same thing and see something totally different. I believe that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you. 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.

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It seems to me that while you may not agree with everything said here, this anonymous author captured something vital for us. To the author to whom I have tried to give credit, I say, “I appreciate your thoughts and musing about the beliefs you have gained in life.”

I am sure that you noticed the word 'believe' in the author's beliefs. Webster defines "believe" as "to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so." A belief is something you believe, which may or may not be accurate or even be right. The object of what or who we believe in is the issue. I think many of this author's beliefs are inspiring and worthy of our consideration. The author's problem, and ours also, is whether the author acts on what they believe. A belief is just a belief until it is consistently applied in real-life situations. A belief, consistently acted upon, becomes a value.

Consider the author’s belief above. “I believe that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel." However, if the author blames others for how he/she acts in real life, then the author has a belief, not a value. Believing a 'belief' and applying a 'belief' are two different things. It's one thing to believe a plane can fly and another to fly in the plane.

Here's your takeaway. Don't just be inspired by these “I believe” thoughts. Inspiration is like sugar to the soul. Sugar gives you a buzz when you read it, but after a few minutes, the sugar high is gone. You have forgotten it, much less applied it. The thoughts above that touched you won't change you unless you use them. 

By the way, I believe God is good all the time, and God’s Son is too. I’ve acted on it. It's one thing to believe in God. It's another to believe God.