It is interesting the way most of us walk in the world. We believe we have to protect ourselves, make our own way, take advantage of our good fortune and opportunities, make and save enough money, prepare for the rainy day…all to gain some sense of security. We most often consider our own security and comfort ahead of the needs and comfort of another. Even when we seem to have enough, we want a little bit more. We don’t want to fall behind…and we prefer others don’t get too far ahead of us either.
This way of living creates anxiety, worry and doubt. It’s not a comfortable way to live. Always worried about having enough and being enough. Not wanting to make a mistake. Not wanting to fail. It’s exhausting. There is another way.
Maybe we shift our perspective inward to realize what it might be like to live with an open heart.
A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. “I’ve been thinking,” he said, “I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.” Author unknown.
What is that precious thing? What would you call it? Do you have it for yourself?
With great humility
Paula
