Happy Valentine’s Day
Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. ~Maya Angelou
Recently this book came as a recommendation from the author of one of my favorite books. I’m using it for inspiration during my morning meditation time and finding it moving me to tears. It is chuck full of stories of ordinary people who make a big difference by performing acts of kindness … in the spirit of the “common good” for those in special need of it.
Brad Aronson, the author, starts with his own story of people who made a big difference in his life when his wife was diagnosed with leukemia. The doctor told them she would need 2 ½ years of treatment and they needed to take it one step at a time.
With a business to run, a five-year-old child and a very ill wife to care for, his overwhelm almost paralyzed him. And myriads of people, each in their own way, some of whom he didn’t even know, stepped up to the plate and offered help.
They inspired him to find ways to make a difference for others … offering acts of kindness in a way that fits for him … writing and publishing this book being one of them.
The Common Good
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ~I Corinthians 12:4-7
You might be surprised, as I was, to learn that the term common good has been used in many disparate ways and escapes a single definition. However, what most philosophers, economists, and political scientists agree upon is that the end of government is the common good of all citizens and that no government should become the perverted servant of special interests. (Wikipedia)
We live in fraught times with the common good under assault. Anyone feeling overwhelmed yet? 😊 The goal of the “powers-that-be” is to disempower and overwhelm us. And so, we need acts of kindness that make a difference more than ever.
And we need perspective that centers, grounds, and focuses us. We need confidence that we have special gifts to offer that can contribute to the common good and make a difference at this time in our history. I believe the Apostle Paul’s guidance to the early Christians at Corinth … who were also under assault … has something to offer us.
Personal Predispositions
As several of my recent blog posts attested, I am a person with a predisposition toward the inner journey … toward that which strengthens our inner life. I believe it is the strength of our inner life that leads us to the special gift that is ours to share with the world … to our unique calling.
And in my opinion … on my bandwagon now 😊… I see a direct correlation to our fraught state of affairs and the absence of the interior … personally and collectively. Personally, I find it shocking the attention that is given in the news media to collective tawdry outer pursuits. In case you didn’t notice, I have a bit of a predisposition as a “judger,” as well. 😊 I am grateful to find myself in good company. (Richard Rohr, Ghandi, Nelson Mandela to name a few)
As a result, with my predisposition toward the inner, I lean toward sacred solutions full of depth and meaning in my efforts to make a difference in the outer world.
Personal Gifts
Following Paul’s counsel to the Corinthians, I draw upon my spiritual gifts to make a difference in the outer world.
- I possess a gift for “good listening.” I especially love to listen to people’s stories, discern their strengths, and encourage their healing and empowerment. This gift drew me to my vocation as a therapist.
- I possess a gift as a small group facilitator. I am able to create a relational environment that gradually leads the participants to deeper levels of inner truths about a subject or themselves … encouraging new ways of seeing themselves or the subject at hand. I utilized this gift in my vocation as an educator, retreat facilitator, and therapist. (I’ve worn several professional hats.)
- I possess a gift for writing. My one high school distinction was being chosen as editor of our school’s newspaper. In seminary, my research papers were highly regarded. In order to write my memoir, I honed narrative skills to tell my story of triumphing over adversity … that being something I admire in writers … my favorite genre being memoir.
Depending on our life circumstances and our native gifts and personal predispositions, we will find ourselves called to share our gifts to make a difference in a variety of ways. There are lots of ways and there is no one right way.
Communities of support are more important than ever during these divisive and polarizing times. We all need support to stay awake and aware of the difference we make and centered on the worth of our calling.
Oh MY GOODness
As the retired mother of a disabled daughter, our lives will be upended in ways, that if I think about it too much, could send me way off center. And so, I’ve felt a need to write and call my governmental representatives about preserving Medicaid, Medicare, & Social Security.
I’ve done that for a number of other issues I care about, as well. I’m also contributing money to help the legal community stand up for our rights, have unsubscribed from corporate media and subscribed to independent media instead, and I’m trying to get off social media that refuses to fact check. I need technological help in subscribing to alternative social media. Any takers?
However, what has been most meaningful to me … because it is consistent with my predisposition and gifts … is writing thank you letters and notes of encouragement to leaders who are in a position to make a bigger difference than I can. I’ve written to:
- Two religious leaders, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde and Texas State Representative James Talarico, a politician who is attending seminary, and preached one of the best sermons I’ve ever heard.
- Six members of the US Congress
- One Senator at the Ohio State House
To counter the hate mail these people surely receive, I send “love notes” of appreciation. To help them distinguish between the two, I use notecards and purple ink with love stamps. I got that tip from listening to Christine Blasey Ford’s memoir, One Way Back.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34
You are amazing, Linda! I admire you and you inspire me.
You inspire me, Pam,
You have made such a difference in the world at large with your writing. Your book, Globalization at What Price, Will continue to have an effect on the world for years to come. Whenever I take even a small action, I think of you and your courage to travel to countries in dangerous situations because you care about the marginalized people of the world. You put your life at risk for them.
If anyone is to be admired, it is you! Much love to you.
Link to Pam’s book:
https://books.google.com/books/about/Globalization_at_what_Price.html?id=VMUBAAAACAAJ
For some reason – and I’m sure it must be from a past life – I have a gift for caregiving. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, it was what drew me to nursing school, and later to foster care. I was able to help with my dad at the end of his life, and cared for my mother ’til her transition, and now my husband. My impact may be limited, but I’m learning the names of patients and caregivers in the Memory Unit where my husband resides. I think it’s a small, but important, act of kindness to call them by their name; especially with the caregivers, to thank them for their gifts of care .Baby steps – one act of kindness at a time…………
Oh Ruth,
Every act of kindness needs to be celebrated … especially when there is so much meanness in the world today. This is not an impact to be referred to as “limited.” I’m sure you can witness the appreciation from those whose lives you are touching. And You never know the difference it will make in someone’s life … a difference that will not just impact that person, but many around them. I’m reading lots of stories about that in the book “Human Kind” … and the ripple effects are enormous.
You are a master at letting people know that they matter … one person at a time. Do not discount the difference you make for that one person … and for many others through them. Never discount the importance of what you are “intentionally” doing! It matters and so do you!
Love notes! How perfect. I shall follow your example., Linda.
Happy to call you my friend.
Good to hear from you, Penny,
Glad you like the idea of sending “love notes.” I even managed to figure out how to open an account on Blue Sky and I’ve been sending “Thank you notes to the judges who are working hard to protect our democracy and institutions. Don’t know if they will ever see it and others are liking my posts. If they know how to contact the judges personally, perhaps my message will be forwarded. If not, I see it as a reminder to be thankful as well as angry during this fraught and challenging time.
Blessed to have you for a friend, as well. Our history together is something I cherish.
This fills my heart and gives me hope!
So glad this gives you hope, Jen! We are all in need of that in this day and age. My efforts lift my spirit and give me hope, too. That’s why I do it.
And FYI … I consider the work you do … work that is at the forefront of transforming our death culture … as vitally important work. The group I’ve been facilitating on The Untethered Soul spent almost the whole session on death last time. They all agreed it’s a subject we don’t talk enough about.
So, celebrate the hope you give others in your important work, as well!
Linda you serve not just by writing notes to people but by writing this blog. You articulate so well and so beautifully!
These acts of care are so interesting because my acts of kindness often feel very selfish because they seem to bring even more resilience to me than they do to the people who receive them. I try to bring depth to relationships. I try to bring the awareness that something much, much bigger than my life and experience is going on in every moment. And in these times I just try to stay balanced in the middle of the chaos…no easy job for any of us!!!!
Thank you for reminding me that writing this blog is a service. My reach is small here and I need to remind myself that it counts, too.
You give care to many others … I witness that. And I see the resilience it gives you. And, don’t discount what it means to those for whom you care. You don’t know the resilience it offers to them, as well. I’ve seen it and been the lucky recipient of it, as well.
Your vision of the evolution of consciousness and the imaginal realms influence is a much bigger vision than most people carry. We need visionaries … especially now when we seem to be moving backwards. Keep up the caring you give to others and your visioning for the world. It is so needed, especially at this time.
And in the process, we all need to be reminded to take good care of ourselves. We all need balance in the midst of the chaos!