PERSPECTIVES
~ 4 ~
By JJ
Schwartz
Occasionally
opportunities in life will at times unveil the most forgiving of power. I have witnessed
the individual who with passion and a true desire to live a positive life will
set aside all selfish ambition and cling to the expressed need that is set
before them. Rarely do we go through a day without the needs of others blinking
before us as a neon sign. Focusing our eyes to see beyond ourselves, reacting
with a heart of compassion and mercifully acting on these needs may have a
profound impact on our own lives. “Oh wait” you say, “I have enough troubles of
my own, how can I help any one else with theirs.”
As
we set forth to explore the anomaly of need, I encourage you to let your guard
down, open your mind and strive to see both sides. Don’t lose me now, this
isn’t as painful or mundane as you may think. We are tapping into the inner
workings of our human spirit and what makes us tick.
One
of the most influential choices I make every morning is how to perceive my
surroundings. Am I living in the lap of luxury or do I struggle to make ends
meet? The answer to this is all determined by our perspective of the situation.
I have lived on both sides of the fence, practicing the act of giving and
humbly receiving in a time of need. How far apart are these actions in reality?
How far does this concept filter into our lives? Is it only the financial arena
that we are talking about? Or can we express patterns of thinking into all
areas of our lives?
I
have encountered the scrooges in life and tend to feel sorry for them. The
greediness, anger and loneliness tend to devour them and deplete them of all
traces of positive deeds. The horror of
letting go of something of value cripples them. They become trapped in their
greed and lust for money and power. The need they have is selfish,
self-centered and void of any traits of humanity.
On
the other end we have the philanthropists, who by their own desire generously
give of themselves for the benefit of others. I tend to believe that true
givers do so from a heart for the needs of humanity. One who gives in this way,
either acknowledged or anonymous, usually experiences an inward joy that
compares to none. The giver that acts out of pride and haughty arrogance will
only feed into his own need. How ironic. I tend to think that this type of
giver must be in close proximity to the scrooge.
I
want to look at this concept a bit closer as it is becoming somewhat of an
enigma as I write. My mind is encompassing this ideal and I see no beginning or
end to the circle of giving and receiving. The fence that I referred to earlier
does not separate, as I assumed but is the meeting of two expressions of need. Being
on one side of the fence or the other does not create space where there exists
a void, on the contrary both sides meet at the fence. Giving and receiving are
both expressions of need. It is all how you look at it. And as you can see,
perceptions evolve and expand as we reflect on differing concepts.
May
your circle be unbroken.
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