Bringing the 10 C's up to date

Saw this while lying in the OR Waiting Room last week - someone had put it up on the wall, I guess as something to ponder before they wheeled you in and put you to sleep.

We all know what the Ten Commandments are, but do we know how to make them the Ten Commandments of life?

Here is the modern day listing - placement in order depends on your faith - and how they might well be significantly applied in our society.

1. I am the Lord your God - If you have a belief in God, profess it! - You shall have no other Gods before me - Heyyy! Remember, you are only allowed the one supreme being, right!

2.You shall not make for yourself an idol - As your professed God, make your likenesses only in my image but I'll allow for artistic interpretation.

3. Do not take the name of the Lord in vain - Revere and venerate my name, don't use it, overuse it, or, abuse it or you'll wear out its significance.

4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy - Put aside some time each week which you share only with me. You can do so in the company of other believers, or, just sit alone and contemplate with me.

5. Honor your father and mother - I'm at the centre of your 'belief core' but do not forget those without whom none of you would be here.

6. You shall not kill/murder - That's it! It's very simple - don't do it!

7. You shall not commit adultery - Take yourself a partner, if needed, treat them with respect and dignity but do not take someone else's partner.

8. You shall not steal - Once again, it's not 'rocket science'. If it is not yours do not take it!

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor - Be honest with yourself and towards all others.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife - admiration and lust are very different. Read all the above if confused! - You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor - If you are envious of your neighbours belongings, get off your Rrrrs and work hard to obtain what you desire, but remember all of the above!

Now, you may not be inclined towards matters of 'faith' and 'belief', so if you so choose, look at these comments on life attributed to Bill Gates. I don't know if they are truly directed - love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail on the head  - so you could easily accept them as something he would say:

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1 : Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss!

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it "opportunity".

Rule 6 : If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault , so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7 : Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8 : Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9 : Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10 : Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11 : Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.