This Saturday happen to be very overcast with rain expected to fall at anytime. Kerri and I had just arrived at the market when the rain began to sprinkle and then began to fall. The rain itself wasn’t so bad but it was the wind that was starting to blow that made all of the vendors start worry as they began to “batten down the hatches” so to speak. Kerri and I were just trying to stay clear of any flying debris and stay dry but as we were walking we came across one vendor who looked somewhat panicked so I asked if I could help. She gladly accepted and Kerri and I helped her hold down here tent and pack her artwork and gear into the van. For helping her she gave Kerri and I each a piece of her art (which are pictured below). Kerri and I hadn’t expected anything in return for our helping hand but this kind and generous women believed that “generosity needs to be rewarded.” She was very kind and very thankful as were Kerri and I for the beautiful and original artwork that she had given us. I can’t say that I would have ever purchased a piece of art from this particular artist but now I find her gift to be quite beautiful mainly because of the experience of which it reminds me.
Is there a moral to this story? Sure, but it is not if you help enough other people get what they want you will get what you want. I find that “moral” to be amoral. The lesson I learned was from the thankful artist who kindly and without hesitation offered her gratitude to two strangers who just happened to be in a position to offer assistance at the right time. I just happen to be the person in the story who got the material prize but I think that the more grateful artist got a whole lot more.
It feels good to be grateful. I find it to be very difficult to be sad or mad when I am reminded of something for which I am sincerely grateful. Being grateful is an act of humility that many people see as a weakness but I find humility to be one of the greatest and most powerful strengths that a person can possess. Being grateful is an easy way to identify a humble person. I myself am far from being humble and find it difficult many a time to show my gratitude. So this picture will hang in my house as a reminder to be grateful for all the good fortune that has smiled upon me even during the times when fortune’s face seems to be hidden. November is a month of thanksgiving for the harvest but also for so much more. Let us not forget to be grateful.
Kerri and I decided to name these pieces of art "Sisters".
**To all who read this post please click on “comments” and read the first comment left by Jorgen. I invite you all to accept his invitation as I have to have compassion on someone in such a way that it is anonymous, doesn’t involve money and changes their life for the better. I wanted to say “good luck” in your search for finding someone to show compassion but rather it is not luck that you need but probably courage. So I say to you all: have courage.
4 comments:
Very nice.
In Buddhist philosophy, they find it good to lose the self (in many ways, but in particular) in such a way that if you ever find yourself thinking "I want/need this," that your mind will automatically switch to "what do you (anyone, especially a stranger) want/need?" The entire philosophy rests on one "word". COMPASSION.
That being said, as an assignment for the course, we must each perform a good deed for somebody, with the following stipulations. It must by anonymous, it can't involve money, and it must change their life for the better. Sadly, this is very hard to do, as to be anonymous without giving or buying things of value tends to be difficult. The trick, however, is to take your time and view the world through this lens. Opportunities spring up daily and you find yourself in a position where you can do "little things" that make a "big different"... for almost EVERYONE!
I suggest, Corb, that for no reason other than compassion, you try this. Do something for somebody, anonymously, without spending money, and which will vastly change this persons life for the better. Don't stop until you get an amazing one (but don't let that stop you from performing little actions of the same or similar ideal. Then, after you find "the thing," just try and stop yourself from continuing this work forever.
Now Playing: John Lennon - Instant Karma
Invitation accepted.
What was your Halloween Costume? And thanks for the comment about graduating
I love those pictures. Jealous.
Obama won right after you left! Sucka.
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