My neighbour, Lloyd and I stood on the sidewalk outside our townhouses and watched a construction crew pour asphalt. Speed-bumps had arrived in our complex. The board had voted. This was to keep our children safe.
“Another example that we cannot self-govern,” Lloyd uttered, shaking his head – turned and walked home.
Is this true?
Is it simply not possible to do what is right and govern ourselves? Does there have to be asphalt bumps in the road to get us to think, be aware, act consciously, take responsibility and do the right thing?
In the days of old, knights and men swore themselves to a code of honour. A standard they set for themselves and lived by. It kept them strong and brave for those they defended.
May God grant us the wisdom to discover the right,
the will to choose it.
The strength to make it endure.
Amen.
Film: First Knight
A knight is sworn to valour.
His heart knows only virtue.
His might upholds the weak.
His word speaks only truth.
His wrath undoes the wicked.
Film: Dragon Heart
All men with honour are kings, but not all kings have honour.
Honour is what no man can give you and none can take away.
Honour is a man’s gift to himself.
Women are the heart of honour and we cherish and protect them.
You must never mistreat a woman or malign a man, nor stand by and see another do so. Never worry in the getting of it. It grows in ya and speaks to ya. All ya need do is listen.
Film: Rob Roy
As knights faded into our imaginations and we moved forward into more modern times, a film, Crooked Hearts gave us an every day version. The character Ask creates his own code when he is around nine years of age and changes it as he gets older. Some he keeps to remind him of who he’s been.
1. Never make a complicated thing simple, or a simple thing complicated.
2. Wear white at night.
3. Take care of Tom. (older brother)
4. Eat from the three food groups.
5. Be consistent.
6. Never do anything with the sole intent of hurting someone.
7. Floss.
8. Always put the family first.
9. Clean even where it doesn’t show.
10. Pursue the truth.
11. Wear socks that match your shirt.
12. Take care of Cassie. (younger sister)
13. Look up words you don’t know.
14. Never put out electrical fires with water.
15. Get to the bottom of things.
16. Forgive.
Film: Crooked Hearts
I believe speed bumps remind me to take it slow and watch out for others, but my own code asks me to be more, to rise above even when I don’t want to and do more, even when I feel I shouldn’t have to. It reminds me that I count, that I deserve, that I have worth, and in doing so, I contribute to the greater good. Most I do without thinking; some continue to challenge me.
• Put myself on the list!
• Always carry Band-Aids.
• Hold doors for people with strollers.
• Never ask anyone to do something, you wouldn’t do yourself. (Jake Cooke, my grandfather)
• Write thank you notes.
• Don’t allow bullying, or support poor behaviour.
• Don’t be less, so someone else can be more.
• Give compliments.
• When someone hurts you – don’t hurt back. You know what you are doing. (Nora Ann, my mom)
• To know and not to use is not to know.
• If it’s in your face, on some level it belongs to you.
• Share, even when you don’t think you have enough.
• See something good in every day.
• Let people help you.
• Laugh, have fun, make time for play.
• Have courage to say yes to spontaneous adventures.
• Always leave a place as nice, or nicer than the way you found it.
• Don’t be afraid to clean up after someone else.
• Be as good to the people in your private life as you are to those in your public life.
• You can take no one further, than you have gone yourself. (Fortune cookie)
• Make being good popular. (Anita Roddick, founder/owner of the Body Shop)
• Keep a confidence.
• Allow for goodness, health and ease.
• Have compassion and a sense of humour.
• Breathe, Trust, Relax and Let Go.
From the life of: Sharon Cooke
When you speak it, breathe it, live it – never letting it down, it will never let you down.
If at first you can think of nothing, start with this; it’s simple and straight forward and is found at the heart of all faith;
“Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.”
The Golden Rule
First Knight 1995
Director: Jerry Zucker
Screenplay: William Nicholson
Starring: Sean Connery
Dragon Heart 1996
Director: Rob Cohen
Screenplay: Charles Edward Pogue
Starring: Dennis Quaid
Rob Roy 1995
Director: Michael Canton-Jones
Screenplay: Alan Sharp
Starring: Liam Neeson
Crooked Hearts 1991
Director: Michael Bortman
Screenplay: Michael Bortman
Novel by: Robert Boswell
Starring: Noah Wylie
Photo by: Sharon Cooke