Old, Simple Principles

By: Bradley Binversie

C.S. Lewis wrote in one of his teachings, “Christ did not come here to preach a brand new form of morality… really great moral teachers never introduce new moralities…. People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed. The real job of every moral teacher is to keep bringing us back time after time to the old, simple principles.”
I found this to be an incredibly powerful thought that is applicable across a broad spectrum of life. Innovation and change can be powerful, but in our lives we need to be reminded more often of what is important than we need to be instructed of brand-new ideas. Some examples:

Society
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
Don’t kill
Don’t steal, Don’t lie

Health
Exercise
Sleep
Eat healthy fruits and vegetables
Don’t smoke or drink alcohol

Professional
Work hard to serve your customers and employees
Be honest and consistent with integrity

Family
Prioritize time for your spouse and kids
Love each other and treat each other with respect

There is nothing on this list that every reader didn’t already know, but yet we fall short. We get distracted and seek shiny objects. This is why CS Lewis’s quote is so important and powerful. Great teachers and leaders, consistently highlight and give reminders of what is most important.