Affirmation: I live a Christ centered life of love, hope, peace,
gratitude and compassion.
Louise Penny, the author of the crime novels about Three Pines,
Canada and Inspector Gamache came to Meredith College in September of this
year, 2015 to promote her newest book, The Nature of the Beast. It's her twelfth book in this series. The auditorium was full. I guessed there to be about 300 people there. I became a fan a few years back when one of
the women in my book group, Anne Brill, recommended Mrs. Penny's work. My husband, Sandy and I like to listen to a
good book if we have an extended drive and I purchased The Beautiful Mystery
for us several years ago. We were immediately hooked. We can't wait for our next long trip to delve
into the newest novel and to be reunited with the inspector and the rest of our
new "friends."
Louise didn't really speak about her books because she said she
might give away some of the story line which she felt would interfere with her reader's
enjoyment. Instead she spoke about her
journey to becoming a successful writer.
It wasn't an unusual story. It
took her a long time and required quite a bit of stamina and also a few
serendipitous events. One event revolved
around a fundraiser in a foreign country where she met her publisher, the only
person with whom she had an encounter during the whole night. Her whole story was interesting but the
message with which I came away was about "kindness."
She said she modeled the inspector after her husband. If you've read any of her work you will know
the inspector is a wonderful man. He is
a family man, he cares deeply about his coworkers and he rises above the call
of duty to a place of kindness and compassion.
What a gift to have someone in your life like that, and especially the
person with whom you've chosen to spend your life. I know it's a gift because I too have a
husband like that. When she spoke about
the qualities these men exemplify she focused on kindness. It was a short sentence but it emphasized to
me the power of words. "It is
easier to be mean than it is to be kind."
Well, I thought, isn't that the truth!
Don't you love it when the same message repeats itself in your
life? Why, I wonder am I hearing this
concept on a regular basis. What is God
or simply the Universe trying to tell me?
What more am I to learn? Over the
last two weeks the phrase, "have courage and be kind" has appeared
two more times. I bet you didn't know
that those were Cinderella's mother's last words to Ella. Disney's latest adaptation of the famous fairytale
added that phrase. In this edition,
Cinderella wasn't simply saved by the handsome prince, they chose to empower
her with qualities that enabled her to change her life and still be
compassionate. Thank heavens!
It seems to me it's so much easier for people to be spiteful, to
be right, to be "all about me and not about you." We all recognize when we are being treating
kindly. Are we called to be kind to everyone? It seems we are. We are even called to be kind to our
enemies. What does that look like? Does it take more energy to be kind than mean
or indifferent? Maybe it just takes a
different kind of energy. I believe it certainly
takes a more conscientious effort to rise to the higher good than to sink to
the lowest common denominator.
Kindness is a close relative of compassion. Many of the messages I've received lately in
several of my readings have revolved around my responsibility to show
compassion for the marginalized and suffering of the world. Compassion is kindness put into action. I
believe as I age that responsibility becomes even greater. This is a time in my life when I have the
luxury of having more time and how I use that time is very important. I want to leave this world a better place
than I found it. I must confess there
are many days when I look around and can't even imagine what steps I can take
to help the world. It helps for me to
recognize that I support several projects that reach out beyond my normal
sphere of influence to the benefit of those who need exceptional help. I really can't help the whole world but I can
do some things that makes a difference or can I?
Do you know the story about the boy who is throwing starfish into
the ocean? A man comes along and asks
him what he's doing and he explains he's saving lives. The man laughs and tells him he's wasting his
time; he can't possible save all the starfish.
It's not making a difference. The
boy picks up another starfish and throws it into the ocean and says,
"Well, I made a difference to that one." My sister, Gloria Hafner, was a specialized
reading teacher in NY. She took one or
two students at a time and helped them learn to read at or above age level. She always told anyone who would listen about
her work and that she had, "made a difference to that one."
At the time of this entry Pope Francis is about to come to the
United States. There has been a lot of
publicity revolving around his visit.
His approach to the world is causing quite a stir. He seems to me to be filled with love and
compassion. He wants us all to fill
ourselves with these intentions and then to put them into action. He doesn't want to hear excuses and he
doesn't want or be our judge or jury. He
is encouraging everyone to hear the message of Jesus and to go forward to make
the world a better place. I personally
find his message and his example to be refreshing, inspirational and
challenging.
One of my efforts revolves around my belief in the power of
prayer. I pray the Rosary daily for
those "who most need God's mercy."
I am trusting that my prayers seep out into the universe and relieve
someone's pain and suffering.
It seems to me there is so much anguish.
Perhaps the world is always like it is now and we simply see it more
clearly because of the media but what is taking place especially at this time
with the refugees from Syria and Africa is beyond tragic.
One of the conversations I've had recently revolved around energy
and our ability to influence it. The
scientist I spoke with didn't believe there was such a thing and that the only
reason there was any sort of change was due to a placebo effect. I didn't feel qualified to argue with him but
I left feeling very sad. He didn't
believe in mystery. He only believed in
"mastery." He only seemed to
believe in what he could see and touch and prove. I am sure he is not alone but I need
"mystery." I need to believe
that there is more to this life than what I perceive.
I don't believe there will ever be any definite proof that our
thoughts and prayers change the world but I truly believe they do. I actually embrace the mystery and imagine
one day when I am no longer physically part of this world, being shown how the
time and effort I made to send help to others through prayer manifested itself.
It'll be my judgment day. I'll see where I failed to rise to the level
of a higher plane and where I truly made a difference because I cared and was
willing to take the time and make an effort to pray.
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