The Loving Wisdom of Og Mandino and The Beatles — “I Will Greet This Day With Love In My Heart”

While so many feel the need and express the earnest desire to find meaning and make positive changes in their life they never take the first step, not knowing where to begin. I can think of no better place to start than with the loving wisdom and guidance of The Beatles and Og Mandino.

The Beatles voiced it so perfectly with their 1967 song “All You Need Is Love” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, because truly — Love is all you need.

“There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done,
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung,
Nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game.  
It’s easy.
Nothing you can make that can’t be made,
No one you can save that can’t be saved,
Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time.  
It’s easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.”

Augustine “Og” Mandino II (1923 – 1996) was an American author. First published in 1968, Og Mandino’s classic “The Greatest Salesman in the World” is a small book with a big message.  On the surface, the book is a valuable guide on the philosophy of salesmanship and success but offers so much more as a spiritual philosophy on life.

Told as a parable set in the time just prior to the advent of Christianity, a poor boy discovers ten ancient scrolls handed down over thousands of years, containing the wisdom of the ages which transform his life.

The following “I Will Greet This Day With Love In My Heart” is the text of “The Scroll Marked Two”.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.  

For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of men and until I master this art I will remain no more than a peddler in the market place. I will make love my greatest weapon and none on whom I call can defend against its force.  

My reasoning they may counter; my speech they may distrust; my apparel they may disapprove; my face they may reject; and even my bargains may cause them suspicion; yet my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay.  

I will greet this day with love in my heart.  

And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.  

I will greet this day with love in my heart.  

And how will I speak? I will laud mine enemies and they will become friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers. Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip. When I am tempted to criticize I will bite on my tongue; when I am moved to praise I will shout from the roofs.  

Is it not so that birds, the wind, the sea and all nature speaks with the music of praise for their creator? Cannot I speak with the same music to his children? Henceforth will I remember this secret and it will change my life.  

I will greet this day with love in my heart.  

And how will I act? I will love all manners of men for each has qualities to be admired even though they be hidden. With love I will tear down the wall of suspicion and hate which they have built round their hearts and in its place will I build bridges so that my love may enter their souls.  

I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me! I will love the failures for they can teach me. I will love the kings for they are but human; I will love the meek for they are divine. I will love the rich for they are yet lonely; I will love the poor for they are so many. I will love the young for the faith they hold; I will love the beautiful for their eyes of sadness; I will love the ugly for their souls of peace.  

I will greet this day with love in my heart.  

But how will I react to the actions of others? With love. For just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger. Adversity and discouragement will beat against my new shield and become as the softest of rains. My shield will protect me in the market place and sustain me when I am alone. It will uplift me in moments of despair yet it will calm me in time of exultation. It will become stronger and more protective with use until one day I will cast it aside and walk unencumbered among all manners of men and, when I do, my name will be raised high on the pyramid of life.  

I will greet this day with love in my heart.  

And how will I confront each whom I meet? In only one way. In silence and to myself I will address him and say ‘I Love You’. Though spoken in silence these words will shine in my eyes, unwrinkle my brow, bring a smile to my lips, and echo in my voice; and his heart will be opened. And who is there who will say nay to my goods when his heart feels my love?  

I will greet this day with love in my heart.  

And most of all I will love myself. For when I do I will zealously inspect all things which enter my body, my mind, my soul, and my heart. Never will I overindulge the requests of my flesh, rather I will cherish my body with cleanliness and moderation. Never will I allow my mind to be attracted to evil and despair, rather I will uplift it with the knowledge and wisdom of the ages. Never will I allow my soul to become complacent and satisfied, rather I will feed it with meditation and prayer. Never will I allow my heart to become small and bitter, rather I will share it and it will grow and warm the earth.  

I will greet this day with love in my heart.  

Henceforth will I love all mankind. From this moment all hate is let from my veins for I have not time to hate, only time to love. From this moment I take the first step required to become a man among men. With love I will increase my sales a hundredfold and become a great salesman. If I have no other qualities I can succeed with love alone. Without it I will fail though I possess all the knowledge and skills of the world.  

I will greet this day with love, and I will succeed.

In a world often rife with division, bigotry, enmity, and discrimination, think of the change possible if everyone lived more in accordance with the spirit of the Beatles’ message and the loving precepts of “The Scroll Marked Two.”

Will you greet tomorrow, and every day, with Love In Your Heart? It’s an exceptional place to start making a positive change in not only your life, but also in our world community, as well. And when confronted by inevitable challenges or struggles, or if you become sidetracked, simply remember — All You Need Is Love!

If you enjoyed this piece, check out — “Wishing You A Very Good Day!”

                “Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.”             –  Garrison Keillor

“Never miss an opportunity to show your Love. Apart from Love, everything passes away.”    – Rumi

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“What a grand thing, to be loved! What a grander thing still, to love!”
― Victor Hugo

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