 Spiritual: August 03, 2011 Issue [#4538] |
  Spiritual
This week: "I Wonder How I'll Be Remembered." Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Spiritual Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm honored to be your guest editor this week.
This week's edition was inspired by and is dedicated to Reverend Jackie Holland. Thank you for all you do. |
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I often have an epiphany as I sit in the sanctuary of Boise Idaho's Center for Spiritual Living on Sunday mornings and listen to Reverend Jackie Holland speak. She's a brilliant, dynamic woman, and no matter what I have going on in my life her messages always seem to hit home. July 24, 2011 was no exception.
Reverend Jackie said that, as a pastor, the most commonly-asked questions she hears are, "What is my purpose?" "Why was I sent here?" "What is my life about?" and "How will I know what God's divine purpose is for my life?" She then went on to explain that she'd spent the week sitting at the bedsides of two different parishioners who were in the process of making end-of-life decisions. One of the dying women squeezed Jackie's hand and said, "I wonder how I'll be remembered." Jackie said such a profound question shouldn't be reserved for the end of our lives, rather we should be asking ourselves this question every day. "That's another way of saying, 'What is mine to do?'" she said. "And when we know how we want to be remembered, then we find our purpose and our passion in life, and there's the miracle."
mir·a·cle
noun--
an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all
known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause. (Dictionary.com)
Imagine the seeming impossibility of your own existence for a moment. The likelihood of that particular spermatozoon combining with that particular ovum, that particular fertilized egg actually implanting successfully and resulting in you ... the odds must be millions, maybe billions to 1. You are a miracle. You were sent here for a reason--a specific purpose. What is it? Only you can answer that, and you can begin by asking yourself how you want to be remembered.
"All we ever have to give is who we are," Reverend Jackie said. "We don't have anything else to give. We think we're giving money, we think we're giving talks, we think we're giving whatever it is that we believe that we're giving, but in reality all we can do is give who we are."
This touched me profoundly, and I instantly knew it to be true. I thought of all the times I'd bought food for or given money to someone holding a cardboard sign on a street corner ... and the time I hugged a friend in church as she cried on my shoulder because her marriage was falling apart. I remembered all the times I'd lingered in patient rooms because they felt isolated and scared and they needed someone to talk to--someone to care. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was giving a piece of who I am to each and every one of these people--extending a hand and opening my heart to them.
I will remember Jackie's words the next time someone offers to let me go ahead of them in line at the grocery story because they have a full cart and I only have two items, or when a coworker buys me lunch, or when a stranger smiles at me for no apparent reason. They are giving me a gift--sharing a piece of themselves, and I can't think of anything more beautiful than that.
"The following words of Gandhi are in large letters at the shrine area of his cremation place in Raj Ghat. These are cut in stone: 'Recall the face of the poorest and the most helpless man whom you've seen and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he be able to gain anything by it? Will it restore him to control over his own life and destiny?' That's a hard one--to run each act you perform through that." ~ Ram Dass
How does your soul desire to give back? What do you long to contribute to the world? What is your purpose? How do you want to be remembered?
Thank you for reading.
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Feedback
The following is in response to "Spiritual Newsletter (July 6, 2011)" :
roloflanagan  says, "Great newsletter, I enjoyed its positive message." Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.
Rajalakshmi says, "Hi Shannon! Thank you for the beautiful newsletter. Very insightful and very well written! Each of us have the power to make a difference. We just need to be careful to make a good difference! If only each of us try to ADD what we can to life, rather than try to GET what we can, the world will be a much better place. Thanks again for the beautiful words of wisdom!" I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you for your kind words.
Olivia says, "This story was very touching. Thank you so much for sharing Shannon :)" Thank YOU so much for taking the time to read and comment.
Joy  says, "Such wonderful advice. It reminds me of turn the other cheek: 'If someone insults you, don't respond in kind, respond kindly.' Thank you for a moving newsletter, Shannon.  " Thank you, Joy. I appreciate your encouragement and support.
GRAMPA ED says, "Shannon, I enjoyed reading this article even though it was a fast read. I will save it and read it when I have a little more time on my hands. I may have to quit writing for a while. (OUCH)" Grampa Ed, are you implying that my newsleter is so long-winded that you'd have to quit writing just to find the time to read it in its entirety?  Thank you for "saving" it, and thank you for the feedback. Peace and blessings to you and yours.
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