A SLICE OF LIFE

By CLaire Dellar (copyright 2010)

It's the end of this year 2010, in few hours.... Like the song, "what have I done?" is my question. And where am I going? Is the other question. We want to feel that our life has a meaning, left a trace, helped others, made a difference etc. all this and more, in whatever words you choose to say it!
To me one very important thing in life, is compassion. Compassion means a lot, and can be seen in different ways. The way I like to see it, is that you care enough for someone, that instead of judging them, you take the time to put yourself in their shoes. Not always an easy thing, but do-able.
Around Christmas, my husband and I were shopping for last gifts in a big shopping mall. We were having a good time. Everything was bright and joyful; colorful decorations everywhere, beautiful things and beautiful people. Suddenly I saw an older man. He was dressed as best as he could, and you could tell that he was a homeless person. He was carrying bags, old bags. I saw him coming towards us in the store alley, in between all the well presented displays of clothes. He had longish hair, his head was looking down, like in his own world enjoying is own type of shopping. He was kind of looking and touching things as he passed it. When he passed us, there was that awful stench. It was him; obviously he did not have access to what we take for granted, a shower and a place to clean your clothes.
I have to admit that I was appalled. It took me by surprise, and all I could think, as I was seeing him continue towards the doors, is that the smell was awful. But I could not help noticing that he seemed to enjoy himself, just passing by and looking and touching things.
As we kept on going the other direction, towards the store exit, all I could smell was that scent, which our man left on the clothes that he touched. For a while, I was simply disgusted, and voicing it, and just thinking of my discomfort. Thinking things like “what an evil energy, he touched everything...etc.”
Becoming aware of my thoughts, I made myself stop that! I had no right to judge him because he did not fit my lovely “world” of beauty and good smells.
Giving to charity that helps feed homeless people is one thing, but being able to deal with the world they live in, is another one.
Compassion finally kicked in. I immediately saw the whole picture, or what I could understand of it, and sent him lots of love and light. He too was allowed to experience the beauty of life, the fun energy that comes from people being happy and going around looking for nice things to buy.
I continued to send him love and light for quite a while during the rest of that day. What this man needed more was a lift, love and light and compassion, not judgment.
This made me feel so much better. I liked myself much more and could also feel compassion towards myself. I know that when you feel anything in this universe, it comes back to you, because it all starts in you!

So I could add to my questioning about what have I done, year-end question, that compassion was part of my goodie bag.

What comes to mind, is what my beloved elder, Grrandmother Pa'Ris'Ha, shared with me, some time ago. To me it says it all: " When we have Compassion, our heart is open, and we become stronger than the things we usually judge and avoid that cause us pain, anger, and outrage. We become attuned not to just the nurturing and life giving forces of Creator, but also the imbalanced oppressive and life threatening ones. As we can open ourselves to others and begin to understand more, which is better than condemning them, we learn how to apply Love and forgiveness to relieve the suffering.
Compassion is not done for others, it is done with others, for yourself, because you can no longer deny the need. Life is Joy and it is the role of us all to reduce suffering on this planet and live fully what we really are, Co-creators.” (Pa’Ris’Ha - Copyright 2009)