This is the title of a book written by Ram Dass and Paul Gorman. I was captured by this book right from the get-go. After reading Chapter 1, I felt so many emotions, so many thoughts. How selfish am I? Do I help enough? Do I give of myself enough? I do not give that much away to organizations out of a lack of trust—at least that is what I tell myself. How much of the money goes to the cause? Does the president or the non-profit have a high income? The questions can go on and on. With that said, and with some reflection, I see how I do help. I like giving to strangers. I might help pay for a wedding or college, even groceries, or just taking the time to smile and say hello.
I also like to help by giving energy work to those who need it. However, I have seen the Screaming Mimi try to take over this area. I hear the voice saying, “Look what I can do,” or “This is your imagination,” or “You’re not worthy.” That last one, “You’re not worthy,” keeps me, at times, from doing one of the things I am supposed to do to help. I stopped helping in this manner for two years because I didn’t trust myself. Was I really being led to move my hands here or there, or was it just my imagination? I recently started again and am finally understanding that I am just an instrument being led by Spirit to help.
I heard about a man, James Harrison, who is known as the man with the Golden Arm. He has donated blood every week for 60 years because his blood has unique disease-fighting antibodies which have saved 2.4 million children. Now, that’s so simple and, yet, how great a helper he is. He did not allow the ego to say, “You’re too busy,” “This not that important,” or “You are not special.” Thank God he did what he knew in his heart what he was supposed to do. He knew he was an instrument, that he was part of a whole.
Another thought that came into my heart was how I dealt with the pandemic. There was so much fear and anxiety around the virus. I wanted to help by staying grounded when I talked to others, to not get caught up in the fear and anxiety but to bring love and calmness. There is much more suffering when you fight the situation instead of accepting it. It is what it is. There are blessings coming from it. Many people have more balance in their lives by seeing what is truly important.
In the first chapter of this book, they wrote about a 92-year-old man who talked about how neighborhoods used to work together, to pitch in and help each other. I have seen this happening since the pandemic. I think the pandemic has helped increase compassion.
In Connecticut, there was a pizza place that decided one day to make pizzas for the local hospital. The owner delivered them and saw gratitude on all of the workers’ faces. He then put it out there for people to donate money to their favorite restaurants so they, too, could make and bring food to the hospitals.
Each of us has to start somewhere. Maybe, just maybe, since we are one, if we all opened our hearts, everyone’s needs would be met. Sam likes to give to hospitals. Sally likes to give to the food bank. Jim has no money, but he does magic tricks, so he donates his time in the children’s hospital so they can have laughter… So on and so on.
Instead of feeling that there are too many needs and feeling overwhelmed, we just have to follow our hearts and give to what touches us. I will not dive into other chapters, but I wanted to share this book. It is a great book to help each of us reflect on our own journey.
Enjoy your week. Thanks for your time.
Theresa Contaxis 