As a person who attempts to live my life without prejudice, and live as though I understand being at the bottom of the chain, or the totem-pole, or live as though I have known the others’ pain, struggles, and fears. I feel it is imperative to reach out to those who are less fortunate, without ‘lording’ it over them, and reach out to those whom I might deem as unlovable. I believe this is precisely what we are all called to do as , citizens of the planet, as people of faith, and as people connected to one another in most every way possible. I am not better than, or more capable than anyone in particular, I am just determined to make a difference while I am on this planet. One of the best ways I have found to help make a difference is to give up a nice winter coat, or blankets, and other such items which help to keep someone warm and well. I have learned that to give of our selves in a special way is most important of all. So, I often gave my favorite coat, or nicest blanket, and new, warm shoes. It was with some mixed emotion, since these really were my favorites - and expensive, but - I knew that it helped someone else feel a little bit special. That’s what really matters, along with helping to keep them well and warm. In Los Angeles, years ago, there was a community of homeless people gathered in a park during the winter. While they were allowed temporary tents to live in, to prevent people freezing to death, it was only temporary. We had a drive to gather blankets and coats for them to stay warmer. Sometimes it is just the simplist things which can make such a huge difference.

This is just a random act of kindness I did for a coworker, and to this day she still has no idea who did it: It was about 4:45pm and I was leaving work. It had been a terribly snowy and cold day. I knew my coworker (who works in the office all day and doesn’t leave the building) had to leave by 5pm to pick her son up from day care. I had been out doing visits most of the day and the roads were bad. I didn’t want her to be late or stressed out when she got to her car and found six inches of ice and snow on it. So, I cleaned off her entire car from top to bottom, including the door handles, windshield wipers, head/tail lamps, and I even scraped all the ice off the windows. All she had to do was start her car and drive. I had just enough time to slip into my car down the aisle as she got to her car. I never mentioned it to her or anyone. But I know she appreciated it. Sometimes, it is just the little things that mean a lot.

For the moment, to keep it simple, I feel I can start with those closest to me who have found themselves with lives turned around, their seeming truths no longer absolute. What I wish to bring is what I also wish to hold onto for myself and my son - hope. The forms this can take are listening, brainstorming for potential income-producing activities, praying, laughing, spending my own quiet time each day so that I don’t go too far off course, listening to guidance no matter how unlikely or odd it may be…when our investment is effort and imagination, that I can afford. Primarily, I believe I, and probably most of us, need to keep hold of the notion that, in my core, I am solid; I’ve experienced disappointment and loss and I am still here. If we live from our hearts, bringing forgiveness to everything, letting go of resentments, feeling deeply our connectedness to each other we will find ourselves in a place from which it will be easier to recognize opportunities to be of service in ways we might never have imagined.

Simple things: ** bring in your neighbor’s trash cans when you bring in yours ** Let someone in who’s trying to merge in traffic ** Take your change jar to the store and donate it via the Coinstar machine ** Use GoodSearch as your Internet search engine ** Shovel the sidewalk, not just the driveway

As a former foster mom, I donate my no-longer-needed suitcases and duffle bags to Suitcases for Kids, which gives foster kids a suitcase to carry their things in. Believe it or not, most foster kids move four times, and have to carry their clothes from home to home in a black trash bag. Every kid deserves to have their things treated with dignity, especially when, for foster kids, their things are the only stable things they have. Visit www.suitcasesforkids.org for more info!

The question of “what is the most distressing to me about what is happening today” is that it seems we do not know how to do with less without great suffering. I can recall the day when credit cards were relatively unheard of. When living life with the actual money you earned was the only way. We should have hopes and dreams, but based on awareness of who we actually are and our actual earning power. Instant gratification has become the norm without paying the initial cost of waiting until we have earned enough to purchase what we dream of. I think the state of the economy is a symptom of need for that instant reward. This is not to say that activism for those in need isn’t important. It is, but more reflection on our own part before we plunge into debt would serve us as individuals well.

Ah yes, here’s another uninspired good deed…cook dinner for a friend and surprise them with it.

I witnessed a car nearly running down three teenage boys walking in their neighborhood as it passed me in a no passing zone The boys had to leap out of the way fast to avoid being killed. I could see the terror on their faces and stopped to make sure they were ok. The car that nearly hit them was already out of sight. It went so fast that I couldn’t get a license number nor could the boys in the confusion of scrambling to avoid being hit. I did see the women driving the vehicle. Coincidentally the out of control car hit a curb breaking a tire when it tried to turn on another street too fast. I managed to get the plate number at that time. I lived less than a block away so after arrived home I called out Department of Safety giving them the details of what happened. About that time I looked out my window seeing the very same car limp down my street dying just up from my house. I called the police back again telling them where it could be found. When the officer stopped the women in the car denied everything. I told the officer there was a second witness with me. At that point they pointed to each other each accusing the other of being the driver saying they didn’t see the kids. One of the occupants told the driver they were going fast because the brakes on the car were failing. One member of my family was not happy about my calling the police but I said that too many people ignore outrageous dangerous acts. The people perpetuating them not only get away with them but often repeat it with disastrous consequences. I was glad this was once time I could make a difference. My older sister was killed by a hit and run driver and no witness ever came forward in her case. As a mother I would hope that if someone witnessed something like that happening to one of my children they would care enough to get involved. Bad driving is an economic force to be reckoned with. The reckless disregard for life and property cost families millions of dollars a year. Some of is preventable if ordinary citizens will get involved.

Always — and I mean ALWAYS - be there for others. In good times AND bad, there are always those around us who we can see are having bad days, bad weeks, and oh! so much longer. At those times, we need to talk. We need to “get it out” to be able to move on at all. Or we find ourselves frozen … and inwardly desperate. Being there for others - being the sounding board and yet assuring them the privacy to talk it out and know it will go no further - is one of the most wonderful gifts that we can offer. If you say you don’t have time? You WILL, if you turn the scenario around and realize this very well could be happening at another time to you. Then you would be searching for the patient ear, the warm heart, and if possible, the hands-on hug that says more than anything else. Does it cost you anything? No. But in this way of being there for another, I notice that it makes me feel a closeness that warms my own heart. Cold anything be better than that?? Joan

For any photographers or artists out there wishing to help feed children and their families in rural Africa you may want to consider donating some of your works. I am a member of the rebubble community at www.redbubble.com. Through redbubble I have donated over a dozen pictures to the Philadelphia Mission. Their official website is www.philadelphia33.org. Their group site on redbubble is His Hands Working. You can also send origional works to their official site to be sold through there if you wish. Through redbubble any of the money from the works I have donated goes directly to the Philadelphia Mission (made possible by a clickable link I have provided). You can do the same thing, joining the redbubble community is free. If you are looking for cards or good art for your home and wish the proceeds to go to this cause then consider buying from redbubble. My username there is blueccs. Any of my donated works will have a clickable link added in my description. Or go directly to His Hands Working and browse many of the other awesome photographers and artists there.