No One Is Alone
Oh, how wonderful this piece is by John Weiss. “One of the best things you can do,” Weiss writes, “is to let people know they are not alone.”
One time, I was in such a dark pit emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I was walking around shaking with fear, near tears. Not to get into too many details as to why, but it was one of those experiences where you might just feel like throwing up and then hiding under the covers for a long period. I was in the presence of many other people in an outside setting. One guy walked past me and stopped, looking intently in my direction.
“Dude, are you okay.”
It was a simple show of care from a stranger that warmed me up inside. I answered that I was okay and shared gratitude. Afterward, I was no longer stuck in the fog or lamenting my derailment. I realized a kindness and care that was worth more than any amount of money.
We are all blessed with such moments in our lives. These may be moments of compassion from a stranger, a beloved family member, partner, or friend to whom our hearts are intertwined. For me, such blessings have included the unconditional love from family and friends, the kindness of strangers in moments of need, and the deeper connections made with fellow humans through numerous channels.
For instance, even in my thirties, there was the abounding love of my grandmother when she recalled how much I loved to cuddle when I was a baby. Sometimes it is an unknown person in a professional setting, like the time a family member was in the hospital for a minor health incident. I was so confused and distressed until the nurse came in and answered all of my questions. Another time, I was in my work cafeteria one of the staff members I had not seen since we moved locations came up and gave me a hug.
Yes, these moments are immeasurable blessings that remind us of our connection to all others. And that we are loved. How many times do we keep that cycle going and strive to pass those blessings to others? May we each be perceptive to those moments where we can be the ones to help others remember they are connected to all and loved.
When we offer care and love to someone else, it spiritually enriches us right away. It can be like the energy we spread just multiplies and returns right back to us.
When I was working the third shift as a grocery store clerk in Iowa stores, we would certainly face bitingly cold Iowa winters. Some of those winter nights would see horridly negative temperatures — below 0 Fahrenheit. Heaven forbid if we had to go outside for carts or anything else!
One night at 2 a.m., there was one customer who was walking several blocks to the local interstate bus station. I noticed he had been outside before, and his hands looked quite red even after he’d been in the store for 20 minutes or so.
“Sir, don’t you have some gloves?” I asked with concern.
“No, I don’t.”
“How do you stay warm in this cold weather?” I pressed.
I went over and grabbed a pair of new gloves off a display rack. I then went to the register and rang them up, pulling out a few dollars from my own pocket to cover. “Here sir, please take these.”
“Really? Why thank you!” I could see his face brighten and maybe his hands start to warm a little bit.
The world can never use enough kindness, love, goodness, and countless other forces that stem from the Divine.
Of course, some paths are not always so shiny and gold. Thick clouds can blanket the night sky. The world can throw unforeseen obstacles in each person’s way. People can commit the most egregious of offenses. And sometimes, to tweak the biblical phrase some, one’s transgression with an impact equal to a speck of sawdust will be misconstrued to the point that their good works equal in impact to a two-by-four will be completely overlooked.
But love, kindness, goodness, and countless other forces prove stronger than even the worst of darkness and gloom. As Weiss’s piece so eloquently ends, I will close with here:
“Whose life could you inspire? Who could you uplift? Who needs someone like you to light a candle in their bothy? To warm their heart. Hold their hand.
Let them know they’re not alone.
It’s one of the most important things you can do on this earth. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.
And when you let someone know they’re not alone, you realize that you’re not alone, either.”
