by Cat Givens
Another day of war. We protest the actions of our government, and innocents still die.
Another day of poverty. We donate to food pantries, still there is hunger.
Another day of injustice. We fight for equality, yet still we are marginalized.
Another day of disease. We use medicines, yet still we lose our loved ones to sickness.
Is it all hopeless? What can we do? What makes a difference?
Tell me, how do you relate to your fellow human beings? Do you urge them on, give them encouragement?
I propose you try to make life kinder whenever you have the chance. This kindness, this loving energy expands as it is passed along.
Here are a couple recent examples from my own life.
There is a marathon in Akron each year. So each year, our
good friends Willy Mac Music set up the band on the front porch and playfor the runners as we cheer them on.You should see runners smile as their spirits rise and they get a real boost from this simple action. They thank and wave, big smiles as they run just a little faster.
We lost several friends to disease lately, two this year alone to cancer. One friend was able to stay home with friends tending to him...... he passed with friends toasting him out of this world.
Cancer is stressful and wears on the spirit. Our local hospital is creating a new cancer centre, and wishes to include a healing garden. The treatment rooms will overlook this beautiful serene garden scape, and it will be a great source of comfort.
We are throwing a great party, a benefit to help make these gardens a reality.
Calling it the Party of All Parties, our community will come together for four days over Halloween and raise spirits, awareness and money.
Is it going to change the world? Not all at once. A little at a time. In one small corner. But it spreads, this kindness. Smiles and comfort to the weak and sorrowful. Compassion. It is something we all can do.
Perhaps some great day this will spread to the so called leaders. Those greedy people who are absorbed in themselves and do not care about others. Those who would kill children and families and call it collateral damage. These people are of the same human race as we. Although their actions are deplorable, they are still human. Perhaps they too can be reached by compassion.
It's worth a try.
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Comments: 34
"If it's depressing, just don't think about it."
Why shouldn't I? Do you think the people fighting in Iraq, and dying of cancer have the option of ignoring what is going on around them?
I don't sit and dwell on it, pitying the people, I learn about what is going on, so that I might be better aware of what it is that they are experiencing.
Clare, you are so right about doing your part. It does help.
Do you have a photo for the group? One of these would be excellent, too!
I've made this the Lead Feature in The Renewed Activist.
And thanks for featuring it...... Honey, do you sleep?
But, I am amazed that things are so bad for you. Compared to about 99% of the world, we in the U.S. have it better than any. Are things really that bad or are you just looking at the glass being half empty rather than half full.
Looking at my own status, I don't see much difference to yours, but for me life is a bowlfull of cherries and every day is great day. I feel very fortunate to be alive. There are plenty of bad people around and plenty of bad things happening, but compared to being in the Sudan or living in any other country of the world, we in the U.S. have a ton to be thankful for. We are truly blessed.
Best regards, Ben
Author "Leading People to be Highly Motivated and Committed"
The world has made great progress over the past 150 years, a progress which never existed for centuries before that. We have far more of the good things and far less of the bad things and that trend continues. We now know how to greatly increase the standard of living of the masses, far above the level of bare subsistence which pertained for all of history up to the last 150 years.
Do I have great compassion for the poor and those caught up in war or disease? Very much so. But that comes down to individual actions to help them and I don't include in that encouraging marathon runners. It also includes helping to free those in the world who don't enjoy the freedoms we have and fighting against the evil which engulfs them.
You rail against greedy leaders as if you have the moral high ground and they don't. Who are these greedy leaders and what is it that makes you classify them as being greedy?
The last greedy U.S. leader I know of who was personally greedy was Lyndon Johnson who made himself a multi-millionaire while in government service. Clinton made himself somewhat wealthy from government service, but Truman, Eisenhower, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush I and Bush II have not benefited one iota.
For myself, compassion is all about doing what I can on an individual basis, trying to elect those who will make things better for us and the world, and supporting those who have been elected so that they can carry out their agenda as best they can. Just because I did not vote for a particular president or whoever, the majority did, so I do not have the right not to support that person once they are in office.
Best regards, Ben
Author "Leading People to be Highly Motivated and Committed"
Jessie, you are one of those one at a time people, too, I know. One minute at a time.
and yes, the band on the porch is always fun and the runners are inspired by the music and our cheering them on, as in life when we just do something little like make eye contact and smile, it helps. Wish you could come to the benefit party.
d m you know, I appreciate your stoppin by, and I KNOW you can come to the benefit. It is a family event. (free camping hint hint). Thanks for appreciating.
And Cheryl, thank goodness for you and your awareness. I have seen the same in my neighbors and some friends. Head in the sand, it doesn't exist. But you are right, we never know.
I see we have different perspectives, and that is fine. If you do not choose to see the greed, then so be it. I am simply glad you are thinking.
Whether or not you believe cheering marathon runners is a way to help the world is not important. I can see what happens when we are there for them. Such as it is in life. If somebody gets a smile from you, or an attaboy, they are all the better for it and likely to pass it along.
A benefit for a healing garden is a wonderful way to help ease suffering, and this benefit will help soothe folks in emotional times. Give a place of solace.
The great troubles of the world, though they are overwhelming at times, can and should be persued with compassion and decency. And we can practice this right where we are.
Compassion is a beautiful gift.
If you wish to debate ideology, it is fine, but Honey, let's be kind.
Cat, I feel this is a good and compassionate article and appreciate the effort put forth.
Thanks for the compassion! As far as Ben and what he is drinking, there are many who feel as does he, aparently. It is a matter of where we choose to focus. I see it is a drumbeat of freedom to Ben, and he has hope for a glorious world subsequently. To deny the greed and suffering and injustice is his right, although I cannot understand why, it is his opinion. Thus is the attitude which moves those who support the criminals of this world (read bullies in leadership roles). For some reason, the reality of suffering, injustice, and greed are discounted and replaced with dillusions of grandure, of justice, of righteousness.
I submit Ben and the others are US with different glasses. Would that I could crawl into those minds and switch the "open" button! Notice, please, that Ben has not belittled nor attacked here, merely stated his counter beliefs. This is good.
So may we be a compassionate example, as we make the world a little better one minute, one person at a time.
Fatih, with a name like Faith, Honey, you breathe inspiration!
Rick, I agree with you. And Imagine is one of my favorite songs, as it was for Jimmy, one of whom this benefit honors.
We may not be so different. My wife and I have always passed out smiles to everyone we meet or pass by.
I recall when my wife contracted breast cancer, had an lumpectomy and was recovering with a whole bunch of other women. All were required to walk around the area at least twice a day. When we started, men were walking with their women not even holding hands, not talking, heads down, eyes down and not a smile in sight. My wife and I walked around with them smiling, laughing, holding hands and saying hello to eveyone we passed. I would only come in the evening after work but my wife did this all day long. On the third day, I noticed that almost everyone was talking, holding hands and smiling even with some laughter. I came early on the fourth day and caught my wife with a large group of women and they were all talking in animated fashion and all smiling and laughing. What a change one person can make.
In my last job working for a very large electric utility, people would always ask me how I could be so positive, so upbeat and so smiley all the time, every minute of every day no matter how bad things looked. I always took the time to tell them how I had made a decision never again to have a bad day in my early thirties and how I managed to achieve that state after about 3 years of consistent effort. Having previously learned how to rid myself of all stress some years before that time was a great help. If anyone wants my stress removal procedure, just ask.
IMHO, being positive and being an optimist is prerequisite to meeting the requirement of my Saviour to "love your neighbor", something I have strived to do better for most of my life. And love must be an action, not a feeling or a thought.
I have been considered an iconoclast for most of my life, so it is an accustomed role for me. The Russians hated me even though they referred to me by my first name.
Thanks again, Cat, for accepting me.
Best regards, Ben
Author "Leading People to be Highly Motivated and Committed"
Henthabox, I see things got astray, but that is what happens. It is all about dialogue, and compassion, as you can see by Ben's latest comment, we DO have common ground. I do not have to agree with him nor he with me ideologically, yet we ALL have the power to make a difference. You are so wonderful in your comment compassion is never wasted.
bless you all.
The comments for this article are just as wonderful as the article itself. It is amazing the way people can read the same thing and view it so differently. Yet even through the differences, common ground can be found. It is very positive.
You can mail the check to:
Cancer Healing Garden
c/o AA Sound and Lighting
39 N Van Buren Ave
Barberton, OH 44203
(be sure to include a note that you're from Gather)
Serina, I can say the same of you, Dear! And you are so right, it blesses both.
Carmen, I have found, too, the comments to be heartening, and enjoyed the way they played out to prove the point of this article in the first place!!!! Thanks!
Stephen, YOU are so good to see again, Friend.
Right back atcha, Babe.
Edward, as matter of fact, we ARE having a fundraiser, and that is what our Party of all Parties is going to do, raise funds for the Healing Gardens in the new Cancer Center at Barberton Community Hospital........
It's the community of Barberton, Akron, Portage Lakes, Canal Fulton, and the surrounding areas..... We all use Barberton Citizens, and with the addition of the Cancer Center more and more folks will be using the facilities.
Z'