Choose Who You Want To Be

Touched
 
I keep a jar of mayo in my fridge
not for sandwiches, but for
my homeless friends
who wade humbly into lanes of stopped traffic
carrying small cardboard signs
 
I am touched by their circumstances, call them over
"What's your name," I ask
Everyone tells me their name -
Ron, Susan, JW, Sara, Donald, Reggie, Dominic, Terry, Daniel…
"I'm Joyce," I say as I reach my right arm out to shake hands -
hands cut, calloused, cracked, caring, kind
With my left, I hand the bill -
"I hope this helps you"
Sometimes I am rewarded with a hug, a head touch, a kiss -
Always, "Thank you," Always, "God bless" -
 
They look at me as if I am an angel
and I feel like one -
I know I have met God on the street!
 
The mayo is a home remedy for hair-sharing
an inconvenience for a night
In exchange for heart-sharing,
I gladly pay the price

---

I used to be extremely uncomfortable when I saw the ragged people with their cardboard signs walking through stopped traffic. As they approached my car, I squirmed, hoping the light would turn green so I could drive on before they reached me.

I dreaded making eye contact because it was then that I felt most keenly the disparity between the prosperity of my life and the poverty of theirs. I felt guilty because of this disparity.

I got past this mental block when I realized that I did not need to feel guilty for the disparity between my prosperity and their poverty. Although I saw the disparity as unjust, I was not responsible for its existence. 

I chose to become a person who neither accepts responsibility for suffering I did not create, nor turns a blind eye to it. This is my True Self.

The foundation principle below captures my transformation:

Each moment describes who we are and gives us the opportunity to decide if that's who we want to be.

Letting go of the guilt enabled me to look at these human beings on the fringe of society - to make eye contact, to touch and be touched by them. 

This poem "Touched"  describes the many ways and levels at which my homeless friends and I touch each other's lives.

I feel emotionally touched:

I am touched by their circumstances

We give and receive physical and emotional touch :

"I'm Joyce," I say as I reach my right arm to shake hands

Sometimes I am rewarded with a hug, a head touch, a kiss -

We give and receive spiritual touch:

They look at me as if I am an angel and I feel like one -
I know I have me God on the street!


Is there something blocking you from being or even seeing your True Self?

Do you have moments when you want to be a different person, but feel trapped by the person you have been?

Each moment offers the possibility to change - to see and be your True Self.

As always, I love to hear your thoughts!

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