All I Really Need to Know I Learned In Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum
What a great book! Mr. Fulghum shared a collection of his thoughts on little events throughout his life and why he believed that most of the lessons we learned in kindergarten could be applied to everything we face as adults. It was very simple and distilled writing, and was pleasure to read.
My favorite chapter was the one entitled, "The Great Heathen." In it, Mr. Fulghum described how his parents did not see eye-to-eye on religion and there was a lot of bitterness between them when it came to that topic. His mother was a born-again Baptist who could not tolerate his father's constant comments about how Jesus was a Jew, and that Jesus was not married because God only wanted to crucify him once. I found myself appalled at Mr. Fulghum's father's jokes, until the author then went on to later explain that his father would volunteer every year for the Salvation Army. Fulghum's father explained to him, "It doesn't matter what you. say you believe — it only matters what you do."
How very true. "Actions speak louder than words." "Faith without works is dead." These sayings are about the same themes, and Mr. Fulghum's father had the right idea, in my opinion. What good is it for me to profess my love and compassion for my community and not do anything? This particular chapter had me further challenge myself in what else I could do while in here, instead of just talking about it. And I hope that in the process, I will be able to carry this same habit and perspective in looking at the world to my community on the streets when I am accepted back into society.
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