Friday 6 December 2019

Contribution

In choosing a life path of hiddenness and simplicity, a small and lowly track of quietness, there remains the question, "What, then, will be my contribution?"

Because I believe we are here to breathe out as well as breathe in, to give back as well as receive.

Even if you are breathing so quietly that people think you might actually be dead, there still has to be an outbreath as well as an inbreath.

So I try to find something that I can contribute every day to make life better for someone, somewhere. It might be writing something here, or sending an encouraging email, or even just praying for somebody going through difficult times, or making sure to speak kindly to the people I live with, and encourage them.

It's a big world, and even if I were the Prime Minister or the Queen, I would be more limited than I might have thought in the difference I could make to the way things are. There are forces in the universe individuals cannot realistically resist — the river is huge and its current is powerful. But as I swirl helplessly along, carried by the tide whether I want to go or not, it may be possible to scoop up a kitten clinging half drowned to a fallen branch, and carry it warm and safe against my heart.

I can make very little difference to everything, but I might be able to make a big difference to one small situation, today. And so might you, of course. I wonder what it will be.

11 comments:

greta said...

my feeling is that we may impact other lives in positive ways and never even know it. a kind word to a harassed store clerk, a smile to a crying child, saying some quite ordinary words that end up changing a life. while we can desire to contribute and plan ways to do that, so much of what we do may be hidden even from ourselves. if we continue to live quietly and simply, pray for our suffering world, commit random acts of kindness, then we can safely leave the rest to God. your lovely words, here and in your books, have blessed me in ways that you could never imagine. well, now you know! you have contributed greatly to my life and my understanding. thank you for just being yourself and sharing with all of us gathered here.

Pen Wilcock said...


❤️

I think of it how Ram Dass puts it: "We're all just walking each other home".

Julie B. said...

You have made a huge difference in my life, indeed. xoxo

Rapunzel said...

Long walk, but Oh! The Scenery!

Pen Wilcock said...

And you in mine, Julie B xx

Hi Rapunzel — yes! And taking the road together is a happy thing. x

Unknown said...

Lovely - very uplifting. I love reading all your blogs - you are an encouragement to us all. May God bless you and your family this Christmas time & always.

Pen Wilcock said...

Thank you!
You too — may you be peaceful, may you be happy, may you be blessed.

Bethany said...

Love this! It is my "stuck in traffic" refrain. I repeat it to myself to keep from getting annoyed at all the other people.

Pen Wilcock said...

Yes! It makes and excellent mantra.

Anonymous said...

I try to keep to a principle of blessing others as much as I bless myself. So if I can afford to go on retreat I can afford to pay for a friend to go next time. Or when I was given money that enabled me to put petrol in my car last month, I do the same for a friend who can't afford petrol this month.

Pen Wilcock said...

That's nice. I like it. A really good example of the grace/gift economy at work — living like that means nobody gets left behind and we all move forward together.