this is about being human

This story from Sallie over at AtTheHeartOfIt brought a few tears to my eyes. She called them angels, and while a fitting title, I think it is one we can all aspire to. This is what being human is about after all.

There are people out there in need, and yet how many of us truly help? As in this example, it doesn't take much -- some cookies, a few trinkets, and yes even a little cold hard cash -- but it can make all the difference in the world.

Sure you can sit there and say, but I am broke myself, or I could never do anything like that because {insert one of one million silly excuses you can come up with} here. And maybe it is true. Maybe you are running in the red, but chances are good it is not as bad as you think. If instead of buying that CD or t-shirt or dinner out, you took the money and helped someone who is having trouble, trust me when I tell you you'd feel more joy than any material possession could ever bring you.

And for the sake of argument let's say giving money to people just isn't your thing, well there are certainly services you could offer: babysitting, cleaning, yard work, laundry, errand running, etc. Or maybe even just the gift of your company. To be there for someone who is hurting, and to truly listen without judgment or criticism is an amazing gift.

No matter what you believe, we are all called to be there for each other. To give of ourselves. To offer support to our fellow humans, especially when things aren't going as they had planned for themselves.

I don't want to know what you have done, or what you do because of this. For these gestures to be genuine, bragging rights must be left at the door.

I do want to encourage you though to read this story (which I have no doubt is 100% true) and think about those around you. Who is in need? Would sending someone who lost a job a check with a note, not a loan, a gift make someone's day a little less stressful? Would bringing a casserole to a new mother be so hard? Would offering to watch the kids so an overworked couple could have a night out be that much of an inconvenience? What about just calling a friend to check in? Or offering to come over and help pack and bring a pizza to a friend who is moving? None of these things seem terribly difficult. Few could even be called self-sacrificing. Then why do so few of us do these things? What are we afraid of?

background noise :: after all, dar williams