“I believe in the dignity of labour, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living.
I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might.”
– John D. Rockefeller Jr (I Believe)
We are just back from a week or so visiting New York City which longer term readers will know is one of my favourite places to visit. It’s a place that has its own unique energy and offers so many interesting places to visit and things to see. Not to mention the great food and coffee on offer!
The words above and many other poignant ones await you as you visit the Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan.
Reading the passages of I Believe early one morning with coffee in hand and waterfalls running tranquilly in the background before the crowds interrupted the day offered a chance for me to absorb the words in a way I hadn’t previously. They really hit home and rung with extra meaning before the footfall of commuters and tourists begun it’s inevitable procession.
Our belief systems are fundamental to the way we live our lives. They are the core of our existence and how we view both the world at large and ourselves within that world. Refining our belief system is part of our journey in life. Chiselling away that which does not matter to reveal those things that really do matter most.
Living up to those beliefs and in accordance with them is then the challenge we all face.
Rockefeller’s words left me thinking about my own belief system. What words would I use to summarise all I believe in? Thinking about whether I always play my part in living up to and in support of these beliefs.
How about you?
What would be on your own version of I Believe? Do you live a life in accordance with your beliefs? Do you live a life that supports and nurtures your beliefs?
The two quoted passages at the start of this post are just extracts from the more complete version. To read the whole of I Believe click here.
