The New Ten Commandments

I have a folder on my computer called “Talks/ Interviews/ Articles” and often (like yesterday), while looking for one thing, another catches my eye. Usually something I have forgotten I wrote. So here’s what I found yesterday, my new Ten Commandments that I wrote in 2024. (Perhaps I should title them “Ten Suggestions” or “ Ten Things to Consider.”) “Commandments” is so—well, Old Testament.  Note that one is in bold to celebrate today’s holiday. Note also that the Psycho-in-Chief has broken every single one of the old Ten Commandments and likewise, fails miserably with my revised list. 

 

1.    Thou shalt respect and embrace all gods as the sacred parts of yourself and others.

2.    Thou shalt make images in an attempt to express that which is beyond imagination.

3.    Knowing that any name is too small for the ineffable, thou shalt relax about using it playfully or angrily. 

4.    Treat every day as a Sabbath Day, leaving moments of rest and feeling the sacred in each day of the week. 

5.   Honor your father and mother and thank them for doing the best they could, while refusing to carry on any of their hurtful and harmful ideas and practices.

6.    Thou shalt not kill and thou shalt oppose the NRA’s shameless production and selling of murderous assault weapons and all calls to war. 

7.    Thou shalt not commit adultery and if you do, thou shalt not pay off lovers with non-disclosure agreements and face the consequences of your action. 

8.    Thou shalt not steal, especially in the forms of corporate capitalism and Wall Street unchecked greed. 

9.    Thou shalt not bear false witness against your neighbor and hold accountable any President who has told 20,000 documented lies without consequence.

10.                  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, husband, house, yard, car or vacations and learn to be content with your lot and deal with your FOMO.