Intentions
and Actions 4
Between
twenty-five and thirty years ago I was in a conversation about
non-material matters and realized that the standards ( start and stop
) I had set up to describe the way I interpreted the non-material was
different from the ones he had set up. In the conversation I stated
that I could not see how anyone could be selfless; even St. Francis
was getting something out of what he did. In his reply, I received
the concept that if I am thinking about someone else and not myself
then I am selfless. What he said made sense to me. If I could
remember his name, I would give him credit.
So
another way to start changing an ego-centric reality is to find
someone to help that I can truly feel compassion for. If I put myself in a
position to be exposed to people who need help, then it is more
likely that I will be around a person or persons I can care what is
going on with them. When I am physically close to a person in need
and am thinking that I am glad I am not in their place, then I am
still more concerned about self; seeing how I am doing. I need (
notice that I use the word I a lot ) to be reaching out a hand of
help to someone to where I can forget self. Personal experience has
shown me that if I reach out freely instead of being paid for what I
am doing then it is easier to forget self.
Two
positions of employment that I have held gave me the opportunity to
reach out to others and they both were fulfilling. Receiving pay for
service to other people is okay as for as I am concerned.
Lord make me
an instrument of your peace.
Where there
is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there
is injury, pardon;
Where there
is discord, union;
Where there
is doubt, faith;
Where there
is despair, hope;
Where there
is darkness, light;
Where there
is sadness, joy.
Grant that I
may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be
understood as to understand;
To be loved
as to love.
For it is in
giving that we receive;
It is in
pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in
dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
Francis of
Assisi
* All images from google images
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