22. Not to give way to anger.
23. Not to nurse a grudge.
24. Not to entertain deceit in one's heart.
25. Not to give a false peace.
26. Not to forsake charity.
27. Not to swear, for fear of perjuring oneself.
28. To utter truth from heart and mouth.
29. Not to return evil for evil.
30. To do no wrong to anyone, and to bear patiently wrongs done to oneself.
31. To love one's enemies.
32. Not to curse those who curse us, but rather to bless them.
33. To bear persecution for justice's sake.
34. Not to be proud.
35. Not addicted to wine.
36. Not a great eater.
37. Not drowsy.
38. Not lazy.
39. Not a grumbler.
40. Not a detractor.
41. To put one's hope in God.
42. To attribute to God, and not to self, whatever good one sees in oneself.
43. But to recognize always that the evil is one's own doing, and to impute it to oneself.

Recently I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles. I had failed to renew my car registration when due. When a polite policewoman noticed she was required to ticket me because it had been over six months.

Because it had been over six months it was necessary for me to appear at DMV in person. After waiting an hour I discovered they could not give me the new registration because I was past-due paying the county property tax on the car.

It was easy to recognize that this "evil" was all my own doing. I was annoyed at myself, but it was also a good opportunity to read in the waiting area and catch up on some chores while I was in town.

The second time I returned to DMV the stranger behind me began grumbing as we came through the door. There was a long-line to get an assignment number. The waiting room was full.

"This will take an hour!" he announced to no one in particular. More like two I thought to myself, but I did not repond. "There are seven windows with no one at them," he offered with amazement.

Maybe some acknowledgement will help, so I offered it was almost as bad as the line at an amusement park. This only encouraged more detractions and criticisms. He eventually blamed Barack Obama for the situation (this was three weeks before the inaugural).

I don't think my neighbor in line had read Benedict. I was happy to finally ease into a seat with my book. How much happier we can be when following the Rule.