Lesson #2- Without Thought of Reward
By David Chaltas, the Old General
January 23, 2005


Recently a friend gave me the prayer that he said General Robert E. Lee carried in his pocket. It was said that every morning he would unfold the paper, read it, fold it back and then return it to its original resting place. Late at night as the candles and lanterns offered the only light except for an occasional moonlight night he would be seen reading his Bible, closing it and praying. Then prior to going to bed he would reach into his pocket unfold the little paper, read it, fold it back and then return it back into his pocket. He was known to give out Bibles and shared his belief in that, "The Bible was the Book of Books". In all things Robert Edward Lee sought the guidance of his Creator. He believed that the Bible was the divine revelation to man and that within the old ragged book that he always carried was all the answers to the questions of life. He was an avid reader of the Bible and believed in its truths. He had a practice of reading it in the morning, the evening and sharing its wisdom during family devotionals. But he also prayed and dwelt upon the Word of the Lord. What were those words that were said to be his daily source of renewal? Where did the words come from and was this actually something he performed daily? We will never know the answers to these questions but this we do know; it was of his nature and Christian character to do so. For the general believed in denying himself and living an honorable Christian life following the example of Christ in all matters WITH the realization that we mortals can never live up to His truths. For He is God and Lee was merely a man of God. But a man earnestly seeking God's guidance as so many others have done once they find the path and the Light that shines upon it. The prayer that was shared with me I now share with you. May it bless you in its simple complexity.

"Help me to be, to think, to act what is right, make me truthful, honest and honorable in all things; make me intellectually honest for the sake of right and honor and without thought of reward to me." R. E. Lee