SIMPLICITY

Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are.  When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.  ~Lao Tzu
Each day, awakening, are we asked to paint the sky blue? Need we coax the sun to rise or flowers to bloom? Need we teach birds to sing, or children to laugh, or lovers to kiss? No, though we think the world imperfect, it surrounds us each day with its perfections. We are asked only to appreciate them, and to show appreciation by living in peaceful harmony amidst them. The Creator does not ask that we create a perfect world; He asks that we celebrate it.  ~Robert Brault

Today, I had absolutely nothing to do. I'm not going to school yet (not until spring), and work wasn't till evening time. So I had two options: Stay home and be my usual movie watching and novel self, or go out to the world and explore. Needless to say, I chose the latter. I took the bus, and arrived at my destination. Where was I going? you will soon find out. The day I start driving, I will genuinely miss my bus adventures. I have met some of the most inspirational and weird people on the bus my four years of riding it. Last week, I went to a potential spring school to pay for my admission. Right opposite the school at the bus stop, I met a woman sitting on the grass waiting for the bus. I joined her, I sat right next to her. "So what bus are you waiting for?" I asked. "The c8!" she answered. "Me too! do you know what time it comes?" I inquired. "Well, I'll give it about 20 more minutes." she replied. Twenty minutes is a long time waiting for the bus.   I almost got frustrated thinking about my next twenty-minute future at this bus-stop. I noticed something though; I noticed that the woman was reading a pamphlet. As she read it, she exclaimed, "WOW! this is sad!" I had to ask, "What is?" she showed me the piece of paper. It was a pamphlet about a charity organization called Adonai Partners. Ironically enough, I know the owners of this organization. They happen to be my former neighbors when I lived on morning side drive two years ago; they also go to my church. A very loving/welcoming family. I guess they distributed their pamphlets and this lady somehow got one. As she read on, her face spoke every word that she thought. She was disgusted, but also very sympathetic toward the photos on this piece of paper. She said she couldn't believe how much children really suffer around this world. she was shocked. Let me describe her for you, so you can have a visual: She is a middle-aged woman, I believe in her late 40's; she has long dark hair with strays of gray; she's of  Spanish heritage, and she is married. (She had a wedding band on her ring finger) Her name is Lydia. She looked into my eyes and told me all her concerns.
How is it possible? I do not understand how this many people can suffer in this world, when so many are successful.  (she said in her spanish accent). This Adonai group is doing good, but only them is not enough! if every person from a third world country, who had the privilege to come to America, went back to their country and help just two people, this world would be different. It just doesn't make sense why half of the world has so much and the other half has so little. This brings me to the topic of SIMPLICITY. Elizabeth Seaton once said, ~Live simply that others might simply live. ~ I agree with her. Matter of fact I agree with both her and Lydia. It just doesn't make sense. I asked her, "What about you? have you gone anywhere to help others?" She answered, "Ofcourse! I just cannot live everyday of my life like others don't exist. I went to south Africa with my husband and daughter last year, and we started an orphanage." As soon as she said this, my respect for her grew mightily. I knew that she wasn't a woman of just words, but also of deeds. She gave me alot of advice on life, love, and the future. Most of which I agreed with, and plan to follow. She targeted something, that which inspired me to write this blog. She said, "Everyone wants to own 10 pairs of shoes. Everyone wants unnecessary compliments from people who don't know them. 'you're beautiful, where did you get those shoes?' little phrases like these are that which destroy the very world we live in." This was harsh, but very true.
Now on to where I was going today. I went to DC and stood on a food-line. This line was for the less fortunate to get food. The line was very long. I stood under the hot sun with those wonderful people for over 2 hours. As I stood in line, I watched. I saw so much more than I expected. The children running around together screaming and playing with sticks. Then there under the main tree at the park was the cutest scene. (If only I had my own camera). A little boy and girl drawing in the ground; when the little girl fell down, the little boy jumped to help her get up. I almost tiered up for reasons untold, other than if it comes to little children (as young as 3 years old) as second instinct to help each other when they fall, then how about us? we are much older, wiser, more fortunate, more experienced, but sadly, more selfish. The ladies all around me were laughing, and patiently waiting in line. The cutest old woman spoke to me, "Sweetie do you want some cheese bread? I have some cheese bread I got from Panera Bread last night after they closed." she is a very old (I believe in her 70's) caucasian woman, with the reddest cheeks ever. I answered politely, "I would love some, but no thank you. I really appreciate it." She smiled, and gave the three loafs of bread to the woman behind me with three children. I admired this alot. Here she was, standing in line for food, but she thought about bringing her left-over food for someone else who might need it more. Needless to say, the lady who got the cheese bread was so happy that she called her husband to thank the old woman as well. You never know what people are going through! Just a little goes a long way. This story may seem untrue, seeing as though yes! we are in the U.S. ,but it is very much so true. Not everyone has the latest iphone, or H & M necklace. Now back to the line; I finally got to the front. I got a full box of veggies, drinks and fruits. I gave my box of food to the last person on the line, and put my experience and inspirations in my bag and heart. I got what I wanted simply from standing in the line. I learned alot about life. I cannot afford to pass another homeless person on the street, simply because they are human just as I am. They have a heart, body, soul, and blood just like I do. The only difference is, I have more material things (unnecessary things). The bible says, "For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." (1 John 4:20). Also, "Let us not love only in words, but also in action." (1 John 3:18). Please find time to read James 2:5-8. Also, please do not be afraid that when you give, you will have none. Because our High God and Love has promised, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5-6). Proverbs 22:9 says ,"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." My fingers hurt from typing now, but I hope this little blog with simple thoughts inspire you to live simply, so that others might simply live.