By Judy Kilgore
Religion Editor

Okay. Don't anybody laugh. Yes, it's me. That used-to-be-young, energetic, ambulance-chasing, relentless, snoopy-nosed reporter of yesterday who worked for the “other” paper. I am now your religion editor. Actually, I have been doing this for a few months now. I just hoped you wouldn't notice who was doing it.

“Judy? Religion editor?” you say, trying to suppress a snicker. Yes, miracles do happen, you see, and I am no exception. It took several bonks on the head, two near-death experiences, the warmth and charm of the members of a little country church and a very special Internet friend to open my eyes and turn me around, but I am definitely a changed person. It could only be for the better.

Of course, we all mellow out a little as we get older. Achieving official senior citizen status with the arrival of my first Social Security check and going into semi-retirement helped a lot too. And the feeling of being a grandmother—I'm awaiting the fifth, many of you will remember my first—leaves little doubt in your mind that there is a higher power at work out there. So, when Cal needed someone part-time to do the religion section, I was primed and ready to fill the position.

I have enjoyed this job immensely. Poring over the church bulletins has given me glimpses of church life in Fayette and Coweta counties I could not have received had I not been doing this. I have anguished with you over the losses and illnesses of your members, cheered with you in your successful fund-raising efforts, tried to put a little extra spark into the announcements of your yard sales, Wednesday night dinners, revivals, retreats and special events, and done some soulful thinking about your pastors' messages.

And therein lies the purpose of this column. Much of the information in your bulletins and newsletters is about upcoming events—that's what I try to single out each week and put into a religion brief or story. But also, within those newsletters are what I call “precious gems”—things that perhaps are not newsworthy as news goes, but definitely worth passing along.

So, each week, in this space, I will pass some of those “precious gems” on to you—things that will touch your heart, maybe brighten your day, and make you think.

The first comes from Rev. Jim Ellison, pastor of Providence United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. It's called “The Second Ten Commandments.” Enjoy...

THE SECOND TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. Thou shalt not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.

2. Thou shalt not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.

3. Thou shalt not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one has succeeded in accomplishing this.

4. Thou shalt face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway.

5. Thou shalt not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.

6. Thou shalt not borrow other people's problems, for they can better care for them than you.

7. Thou shalt not try to relive yesterday, it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life and be happy now!

8. Thou shalt be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear different ideas from your own.

9. Thou shalt not become “bogged down” by frustration, for 90 percent of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action.

10. Thou shalt count thy blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one.

Thanks, Jim, for allowing us to share this with the community. I hope someone will read it and perhaps have a burden lifted from his or her heart today.

I'd like to hear your response to this type of column. I don't think anything like it has ever been done before in this area, at least in the 17 years I've been in the newspaper business here. You can write to me at the Citizen, P.O. Box 1325, Fayetteville, GA 30214 or e-mail me at JodieK444@aol.com.

Until next week....

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