Being
Helpful
“Our
prime purpose in life is to help others. And if you can't help them,
at least don't harm them.” The Dalai Lama
I
helped my son and daughter-in-law move into their first house
yesterday. We spent four hours packing a truck to the doors and a van
with drawers full of clothes, and small tables and boxes. Several of
their young friends helped, thank God, and my friend, Andy. It was
90 degrees and spitting rain off and on, making the humidity 100%.
Today, every muscle in my body feels like over-cooked spaghetti. When the job was finished, we ate pizza and drank beer and talked
trash. It was a good day.
When
I ponder the Dalai Lama's words about kindness and compassion, I
don't usually think about things like helping someone move or, as my
son put it, relocate their tangible assets. I think of lofty things
like forgiveness and understanding. But sometimes, what one needs is
for you to pick up that box and heft it into the truck. Sometimes,
people need a pot of soup and a loaf of bread. Sometimes they need a
warm coat, or a drink of water. Sometimes, a pizza and a beer is
exactly the right thing.
Kindness
comes in lots of forms. We don't need to be a human doormat who gives
away her life-blood in service to others. We can't buy our way into
paradise by our good works. But helping others is both kind and
selfish. It makes them feel good and it makes us feel good—sore,
but good. Today is a fine one to lend a hand to someone who needs it.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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