It has been awhile since I broke out my pen. Life has filled my days with many work projects that have consumed my time. This past month has presented me with an interesting journey that have provided many observations; some of which I am still carrying around in my head waiting to be put into writing. But those thoughts will have to wait till another day to be fleshed out. Today I am going to focus on the connections we have with one another with a mind to making several appeals of assistance for people I know who are in need.
You have seen me discuss many times in the past the idea of that all of us are connected; that we share an affiliation with one another which extends beyond our shared humanity. This idea of connectivity exists despite our efforts to erect boundaries in an attempt to wall ourselves off from one another. Those things like our political orientations, religious beliefs, social status being but a few of the ways we seek to differentiate ourselves from each other. Despite these efforts, we cannot outrun what binds us to one another. Our connection begins at a base level. It is the very energy that instills life within us. This energy that permeates all living things and non animated objects as well, binds us to one another, for no living thing is self sustaining. We are all dependent upon other sources of energy for our lives to remain viable; the energy of the sun which provides us heat and light enabling all life to exist, we have the same dependency on air and water. Moving up the chain of basic human needs, we have no less a dependency on one another. We have evolved as a society into a realm of specialization. We have come to depend on those who farm to provide us with the food that nourishes us, just as the farmer depends on those who manufacture the machinery that allows him to do his job more efficiently. The Buddhists believe in this interdependence. It is a core component of their philosophy. Within this thinking of interdependence is also the thought that every one of our actions has an influence in some way upon everything that surrounds us. There is a thought that the beating of butterfly wings in North America affects the weather patterns in other parts of the world. Such is the power of the energy we put out and the sensitivity to that energy that those things around us have.
It is my experience that in these highly sensitive economic times that this idea of our interdependence has become more pronounced. People I know from all walks of life are suffering to varying degrees. We have that common bond of suffering. It is also my belief that people are recognizing that there is a fundamental shift occurring in the way we see our fellow man. We are beginning to recognize this interdependence. It is becoming less an idea of what benefits ‘me’ first and more the thought of what benefits ‘we’. Beyond being altruistic, there is practicality to this mindset: people are becoming more aware that what helps the collective we will in turn benefit the individual me. Because obviously, you can’t be building houses unless people have a job in order to pay for them.
It is in the nature of assisting the collective we that I am writing this. There are three appeals I would like to make that I am asking for you to give thoughtful consideration. Thoughtful in the sense that maybe you can’t assist but you know someone else who might be able to.
The first appeal is for employment. I have three friends who are unemployed/underemployed due to downsizing and as well the freezing up of the financial markets. One friend’s background is in publication and editing, principally of trade magazines; another is a graphic designer. The third has a financial analyst background with a specialty in commercial lending. Again maybe these are not areas that you have any expertise in but you know someone who does and may be able to provide leads. Feel free to call me or email me if you can help.
The second appeal is for items of clothing as well as now furniture. Most of you know that I do outreach with the homeless and this is becoming the time of year where we need clothing to help keep them warm. As far as the furniture goes, I am excited to say that several of the people we have encountered on the streets are now getting housing, however in their situation they obviously have no furniture and limited or no financial means in which to obtain furniture. So anything that you can spare would be appreciated. Again contact me and I will make arrangement s with you to pick up the items that you can donate.
Lastly, I am doing a Walk for Autism. This is a fundraiser to help in the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. The walk is on the 11th of October and the link on how to donate is below. This is personal to me as Donnas and my nephew Alex, has autism. I have witnessed over the years his progression as a result of the intensive therapy he has gone through. I cannot imagine what he would be like without the endless hours of work that his parents and his caregivers have put in with him. As our society begins to become more aware of what autism is, there is less an idea that people who are afflicted with autism are somehow mentally deficient. This awareness continues to spur ways in which we can begin to put the pieces of the puzzle together so that people that are afflicted with autism can begin to communicate and assimilate with society. I urge you to view a You Tube link I am posting below of a young autistic girl and her communication with the outside world about what she experiences. Again it is very revealing of someone who just a few years ago might have been labeled mentally retarded. Please consider donating to the Walk for Autism.
The You Tube link:
The link to donate to my webpage:
This is a world that is instantaneous. More and more we are challenged to be participants even when we might otherwise want to stand on the sidelines. I ask you to be the butterfly that beats its wings and influences things going on in the world around you. I appreciate you bearing with my appeal and I appreciate any assistance you can provide.
Namaste
Paul