The world is made a much happier place by those who take time to care for others. They take time to care, not because they have to, because they're paid to, or feel obligated to, but because they want to. They genuinely care about the welfare and well being of their neighbor, and want to make a positive difference. And they are willing to sacrifice time and personal pursuits in order to bless their neighbors.
Jake's World posted a touching blog titled, "Writing for students," that contains a video link to a story from the Today Show. This video chronicles a teacher who takes substantial time out of his life to encourage his students. Be sure to watch the 4 minute video.
Showing posts with label care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label care. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Johnny the bagger
Here is a must see video for anyone wondering whether they can make a difference in the world.
It’s short.
Johnny the bagger
It’s short.
Johnny the bagger
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Do we care enough to stop and help?
This past weekend, I spoke and led several workshops at a camp for youth in the Mid-west. It was a glorious three days capped off by a spectacular fireworks display over a nearby lake.
Many minutes passed as we awed over the impressive pyrotechnics show the sponsors had put together. Crowds clapped at the bursting colors and flaming rockets of light jetting in all directions. The weather was perfect. The temperature was ideal. The setting was idyllic. As I watched and participated, I made a gratitude list of all the blessings I had witnessed that weekend and would take home with me.
But as the immense celebration continued, I glanced about and noticed a lone young man standing near me, with hands in his pockets, standing tall and erect, crew cut, and deep in thought. I did not know this young lad personally, but I did know he was headed to military training, and then presumably off to fight in the Mid-East war.
It was a very sobering moment.
I pondered what might be going through his thinking.
We were watching harmless fireworks in the sky designed to entertain. He might have been pondering real bombs bursting above his head, tanks firing, bullets whizzing by, grenades being lobbed, and how he might have to escape such dire scenes.
Suddenly, I was not so interested in the fireworks anymore. I wanted to mine this ironic setting for spiritual lessons.
I thought about times in life when a person might think they are doing the most important activity of all, but standing right next to them is someone in far greater need.
For example, we race to the grocery store, feeling pressed for time, running down the aisles gathering our items in hopes we’ll get home in time to cook dinner for the family, but in our rush fail to notice another shopper, also thinking about their family, but also crumbling under the fear of some disease. Or, we fret and fume over how to get the bills paid, but a neighbor down the street is losing their home because their bills are not paid at all.
Now, I don’t believe in getting down on ourselves, and I did not. But standing next to this military recruit, and knowing I would fly home safely to Washington State, and he would, in a few months, likely head to Iraq, was a call to further action for me, that it’s very important to consider our neighbor’s needs and be there to help.
And I do help. I’ve devoted my life to helping others. I believe most all of us are quick to help our neighbor in need when we can. And that is very good.
But I took a moment to pray for this boy. I blessed him with the truth that wherever he went, he would be going in the presence of God, and that the divine presence would protect him from harm. That he was loved, cared for, watched over and protected at all times, and that he would feel, know and experience safety whether driving down the streets of a large city in the USA, or walking down the streets of an Iraqi town with a rifle in his hands.
We did not know each other personally, and I wasn’t sure exactly what the facts were concerning his future, so I didn’t speak directly to him, although, maybe I should have. But I did give him a big metaphysical spiritual hug and still think of him as armored and shielded in Love.
Many minutes passed as we awed over the impressive pyrotechnics show the sponsors had put together. Crowds clapped at the bursting colors and flaming rockets of light jetting in all directions. The weather was perfect. The temperature was ideal. The setting was idyllic. As I watched and participated, I made a gratitude list of all the blessings I had witnessed that weekend and would take home with me.
But as the immense celebration continued, I glanced about and noticed a lone young man standing near me, with hands in his pockets, standing tall and erect, crew cut, and deep in thought. I did not know this young lad personally, but I did know he was headed to military training, and then presumably off to fight in the Mid-East war.
It was a very sobering moment.
I pondered what might be going through his thinking.
We were watching harmless fireworks in the sky designed to entertain. He might have been pondering real bombs bursting above his head, tanks firing, bullets whizzing by, grenades being lobbed, and how he might have to escape such dire scenes.
Suddenly, I was not so interested in the fireworks anymore. I wanted to mine this ironic setting for spiritual lessons.
I thought about times in life when a person might think they are doing the most important activity of all, but standing right next to them is someone in far greater need.
For example, we race to the grocery store, feeling pressed for time, running down the aisles gathering our items in hopes we’ll get home in time to cook dinner for the family, but in our rush fail to notice another shopper, also thinking about their family, but also crumbling under the fear of some disease. Or, we fret and fume over how to get the bills paid, but a neighbor down the street is losing their home because their bills are not paid at all.
Now, I don’t believe in getting down on ourselves, and I did not. But standing next to this military recruit, and knowing I would fly home safely to Washington State, and he would, in a few months, likely head to Iraq, was a call to further action for me, that it’s very important to consider our neighbor’s needs and be there to help.
And I do help. I’ve devoted my life to helping others. I believe most all of us are quick to help our neighbor in need when we can. And that is very good.
But I took a moment to pray for this boy. I blessed him with the truth that wherever he went, he would be going in the presence of God, and that the divine presence would protect him from harm. That he was loved, cared for, watched over and protected at all times, and that he would feel, know and experience safety whether driving down the streets of a large city in the USA, or walking down the streets of an Iraqi town with a rifle in his hands.
We did not know each other personally, and I wasn’t sure exactly what the facts were concerning his future, so I didn’t speak directly to him, although, maybe I should have. But I did give him a big metaphysical spiritual hug and still think of him as armored and shielded in Love.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Caring for others
“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged,
sympathetic with the striving
and tolerant of the weak and strong.
Because someday in life you will have been all of these.”~ George Washington Carver
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Your effect on others
Heard an interesting analogy yesterday of how our actions impact others…Two men were out fishing in a small boat. One man reaches down to the bottom and starts cutting a hole. A bit terrified his partner says, “What are you doing? You’ll sink the boat!” The fisherman replies “Oh, don’t worry about me and what I’m doing. This is my part of the boat to do with as I please.”
Have you ever seen such an attitude expressed? People with a desire to be left alone and do as they please often forget that their actions have an impact on others.
For instance, a dad stays regularly late at the office and fails to grasp the deprivation his family is struggling with by having him always gone. The kids suffer, but no one notices. Or an employee comes to work in a bad mood and doesn’t care that everyone around her feels the negativity. Or someone mindlessly throws litter out of the window of their car and pollutes the scenery that everyone else observes. There are many more examples…
When someone “drills a hole” in North Korea it affects people in Europe…and everywhere else. We’re all in the same “boat” together.
There is one Mind and one family under God. The more we love each other as family members the more we’ll take into consideration the impact our actions have on others.
Maybe then there will be fewer “sinking boats” in the world!
