The Smile Project
November 29th 2006 14:55
Category: Oriental Thoughts
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonalds, one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
A s I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell... and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling"..his beautiful sky blue eyes: were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentle man was his salvation. I held my tears......as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said,"Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford (to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something...they just wanted to be warm). Then I really felt it...the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me...judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you."
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you...God is here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me honey.... to give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time we knew that only because of the Grace were we able to give.
We are not church goers but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on th e last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it....then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings (part of God) share this need to heal.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonalds, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn... unconditional acceptance..... after all ....we are here to learn!
Much love and compassion sent to each and every person who may read this.
Unknown author
www.experiencefestival.com
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WeR1Family
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Comment by WeR1Family
Stories of Wisdom
Lone - My Life and Thoughts
Hmm, isn't that a tough question? I'll try to respond as best as i can based on my previous experiences and insights.
Me too have wondered this at some point in my past, and out of the confusion, i decided to always use my two inseparatable weapons to handle such cases, they are LOVE and WISDOM.
WISDOM i define is the ability to see what is desirable(good) and what is not at one point of time, since what is good at one point of time might not be good at another point and so on. So there is no way to have an exact standard of 'goodness'.
I use WISDOM to determine how much to do something, the way to do it, who to do it to, where to do, etc. But LOVE would be the spirit of my WISDOM, simply saying i use the wisdom to manifest love. From LOVE, by LOVE, through WISDOM.
What we do to others might not turn out to be the best for them...But we should do to others what we think best for them by doing the best we can, as that is the only thing that is in our realm of control.
If we see through our WISDOM that it is best to give them two breakfast meal, then let's do it! If we see through our WISDOM(of course must be based on LOVE) that it is best to give them no breakfast meal at all, then let's do it!
There is no 'right' or 'wrong' as many spiritual teachers have told us. What matters is that we choose to live by LOVE.
What do you think?
Thanks for the great comment Adrian!
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
In another context: when someone asks you to give to charity, how much money do you give? $20? $30?
But your comment, "There is no 'right' or 'wrong' as many spiritual teachers have told us. What matters is that we choose to live by LOVE." is interesting. I'll reflect on that.