April 23, 2005
By Emily Dickinson
If I can stop one heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain
If I can ease one life the aching
Or cool one pain
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again
I shall not live in vain.
Often times I find myself in the company of folks who have a need to get things off their chest or blow off steam. COMPLAIN. This is wrong, this is bad; he/she is wrong, he/she is bad. In this group, there is a lot of commiserating and there is a general consensus that “we” now feel better in the company of our misery. I always respond with something like, yeah so what; or what are you doing about it? Of course, everyone is in total agreement that there is nothing that can be done. Yes, things are in a mess but I can make sense by finding personal meaning out of a crazy world.
It’s interesting that many times the case may be that you are doing good works, doing what needs to be done, taking action. And then you are scrutinized by others for your motives…is she trying to get ahead, is she trying to position herself in the community… I think about this and can only respond…whatever: I need to do what is good and right and true.
When you DO (not think or consider) something good and right and true… You will know (you and God) that is all who need to know to matter.
For me, this is true: because I try to always be honest and frank with others, I believe that honesty and frankness build stronger relationships. I believe people always know where they stand with me. I believe this communicates my needs and allows for others to freely communicate their needs. Hence, we can work to meeting the needs of each other! Likewise, we can help each other fulfill our dreams. AMEN to that.
Funny how often we sympathize with the underdog. We cheer him/her on. We love their stories. And yet, if it is our family or our career or reputations… so we take the risk of being the underdog.
Belongings are valuable, but Life is precious. The act of building is a risk. A risk that means everything you have built can be lost or taken away or snuffed out in an instant. That doesn’t change what you accomplished, does it? Building a relationship, building a friendship, building a family, building a household, building a home. These acts of building are worth building. They bring joy and satisfaction.
I can make a difference.
If I can stop one heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain
If I can ease one life the aching
Or cool one pain
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again
I shall not live in vain.
Often times I find myself in the company of folks who have a need to get things off their chest or blow off steam. COMPLAIN. This is wrong, this is bad; he/she is wrong, he/she is bad. In this group, there is a lot of commiserating and there is a general consensus that “we” now feel better in the company of our misery. I always respond with something like, yeah so what; or what are you doing about it? Of course, everyone is in total agreement that there is nothing that can be done. Yes, things are in a mess but I can make sense by finding personal meaning out of a crazy world.
It’s interesting that many times the case may be that you are doing good works, doing what needs to be done, taking action. And then you are scrutinized by others for your motives…is she trying to get ahead, is she trying to position herself in the community… I think about this and can only respond…whatever: I need to do what is good and right and true.
When you DO (not think or consider) something good and right and true… You will know (you and God) that is all who need to know to matter.
For me, this is true: because I try to always be honest and frank with others, I believe that honesty and frankness build stronger relationships. I believe people always know where they stand with me. I believe this communicates my needs and allows for others to freely communicate their needs. Hence, we can work to meeting the needs of each other! Likewise, we can help each other fulfill our dreams. AMEN to that.
Funny how often we sympathize with the underdog. We cheer him/her on. We love their stories. And yet, if it is our family or our career or reputations… so we take the risk of being the underdog.
Belongings are valuable, but Life is precious. The act of building is a risk. A risk that means everything you have built can be lost or taken away or snuffed out in an instant. That doesn’t change what you accomplished, does it? Building a relationship, building a friendship, building a family, building a household, building a home. These acts of building are worth building. They bring joy and satisfaction.
I can make a difference.
I can change a life.
Maybe it’s just my own.
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