It's A Wonderful Life

There is an old Sufi legend. I've said it before in an earlier blog but it is so profound I'm going to do it again.

God and man were talking as they often did in the beginning of time. God said to man, Tell me of your dreams and aspirations coming to this planet." Man replied, "The big yearning dream is that I make a difference; that I touch people." Now God was feeling very expansive that day so he decided he would grant man that very wish.

He said to man, "I grant you the ability to make a difference and touch people in their lives. However there is a condition. You will never know when or how or where it will happen!" Thus was born a truth that messes with us.

It messes with us because each day in the world we make a difference. We touch people but it occurs in the following way. It occurs in a Divine way and when we slow down we start to realize we are doing it. However we spend a great deal of time in our ego base and our ego base doesn't even recognize the situation of making a difference. Our ego filter gets in the way big-time. The fight occurs when we think we may have touched someone but our ego jumps up and jumps into the rabbit hole. How could I make a differfence? How could I show up and make a differfence in someone elses's life; I don't even make a difference in mine.

The Christmas movie "It's A Wonderful Life" demonstrates this principle perfectly. The lead character doesn't think he makes any impact so part of the movie is an angel showing him the world if he had not shown up. Even then it was so hard for him to believe it.

I have a drawer full of cards of all kinds. Periodically I go through my contact list and I randomly send out cards. Some are sent for purpose (birthday, anniversary, etc.); some are sent for no reason at all. It's part of the 'not doing it alone' movement and I don't think at all that it might make a difference. I just do it. This includes my phone calls now and then.

It seems to me that part of our journey is the fact that God has had a hand in putting all of us together. Thus part of our friendship and family are there because at some level God has said 'these people will work together. Who am I to disagree with God? So that is part of your job.

It's not up to you. No matter what you do will make a difference! So do not self-censor your actions. This is that famous gambit "I won't call him because he will be busy!" Call him anyway. Take the next step!