A few weeks ago, I was listening to Oprah interview Sister Joan Chittister. Oprah asked (and I’m paraphrasing here) how people could start to make change happen and Sister Chittister responded, “Do something.” I like that. A simple, yet complete response, just “do something.”
So today, on Christmas, I thought I’d release a short blog about doing “something” toward creating a more peaceful and loving world.
What if we consider the path to get there is filled with one “something” at a time?
All great visionaries and avatars professed the importance of being of service…of doing “something.” Here’s a few:
- “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Ghandi
- “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.” — The Dalai Lama
- “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”. — Martin Luther King, Jr.
- “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” — Mother Teresa
- “Love one another.” — Jesus
- “Radiate boundless love toward the entire world.” — Buddha
- “When these (selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear) crop up…we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help.” — Bill W. & AA Founders
Be the change, help others, take the first step, smile, love one another, connect with others in need…just do one thing, one “something” good for someone or something else. It doesn’t have to be huge and it doesn’t have to cost you a dime.
Notice how you radiate a happier you when you touch the lives of others.
Reaching out to be of service to others in struggle reminds us of our humanity, that things have been or could be a lot worse, and that one simple act of kindness can change the course of someone’s life, whether we see that change or not. And it simply feels good…which is selfish, but it’s a good selfish, so carry on with your awesome self!
I do what I can to help people always. But your post made me think once again about things an I wrote this. Because why not? ^_^ Sorry if it’s long and merry Christmas!
I have a continuous personal thought about the human experience. Particularly where it pertains to the idea of striving for compassion and goodwill. On the notion of concepts like good and evil I’m not so sure anymore (at this stage in my life). The cycle of carnage seems endless and has always been. The world is always ending.
We enter this existence out of seeming nothingness, are given depth perception and are made into what we are by circumstance. Our location, mindset and parents are (seemingly) a dice roll. Thinking on that fact, some people are literally born and bred to go to hell, and never had a chance from the get-go.
Looking further out still, the scope of human suffering is comparatively small (very small…) compared to nature as a whole. Nature is filled with claws and teeth, from the fish to the insects. They are all designed to tear each other apart in awful ways, and If you’ve ever seen a cat torture a mouse, or a pack of hunting carnivores, it becomes clear that it’s not always about survival; sometimes it’s about the sheer visceral joy of torture. Adversity and carnage are paramount, right down to bacteria.
But I suppose human beings only (or mostly) consider human beings. Many even believe human beings are inherently evil, when in fact even the most god-awful worst human being may simply be a product of this natural universe. An ‘evil’ man has no say in the matter.
There are clear ideas about pleasure and pain which bring about notions of good and evil. But I believe at times, there is no such thing. It’s all a human opinion, cooked up by the wired electrical process of a human brain. There is just this Universe, nature, and we’re all just playing a tune with it.
This gets me thinking that perhaps the raw scientific perspective of cause and effect is the correct one. I wonder if enlightenment really is gained by compassion, and if so, would that rule change if I were something other than human?
Those are my thoughts. I’m sorry if it all seems like a tangent jumble (it is lol!). I’d love to get another perspective on this.
Thanks for your thoughts, Allen. For me, the path to a more peaceful existence is definitely through compassion, for self and to others. Humans are beyond complex, yet have the ability to choose. How kind we are, how much we seek to understand, how much we care that others have the same things that we want…we have the ability to care and help. I appreciate you for sharing your thoughts 😊
I suppose you’re right. It’s about what makes us happy as individuals. For me, I am wondering if my own happiness matters that much. A drop of water in an ocean. But maybe that will change. Sorry for corrupting your post with my rant 🙂 It’s early here. Your posts are thoughtful. Thanks!
…and your own happiness matters very much. Everyone’s does. Thanks Allen 😊🙏🏻