The Boy in the Box

Do not care

overly much for

wealth, or power, or fame,

Or one day you will meet someone

Who cares for none of these things,

And you realize

How poor you have become.

         - Rudyard Kipling

 

 

O God who art Peace everlasting, whose chosen reward

is the gift of peace, and who has taught us that the

peacemakers are Thy children, pour Thy sweet peace

into our souls, that everything discordant may  utterly

vanish, and all that makes for peace be

sweet for us forever.       - Galasian

 

 

As I listened to the radio on the way home from work tonight,

I heard the story of a young homeless boy who lived with his family in a cardboard box.  When asked what he would want if he could have anything in the world, he didn't ask for a house, or a car, or even a toy ... the little boy wanted a new cardboard box for his family to live in. 

So simple, so purely in the moment,

how powerless he makes me feel.

I think so often of the many people who are suffering in this cold

weather, and I wonder what I can do to help.  Am I doing enough?  Am I giving enough? 

 

It is always a challenge for me to see the deep suffering that faces so many

people.  As surely as suffering is a part of life for everyone,

and each of us can only do what we can do,

coming face to face with the suffering of another can

put a shadow on the joy in my heart.

 

Tonight, I need the wisdom of Dr. Bob to put me into perspective ...

 

"   And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation—some fact of my life — unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.      Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” He forgot to mention that I was the chief critic. I was always able to see the flaw in every person, every situation. And I was always glad to point it out, because I knew you wanted perfection, just as I did. A.A. and acceptance have taught me that there is a bit of good in the worst of us and a bit of bad in the best of us; that we are all children of God and we each have a right to be here. When I complain about me or about you, I am complaining about God’s handiwork. I am saying that I know better than God."

Breathe that in for a while ....

... it helps me to stay in balance,
not to become overwhelmed by the sadness in this world.
From this space I can pray for guidance on what I CAN do to help,
and be grateful for this little boy and his message.

I wish him peace and warmth,
I wish you peace and warmth,
I am grateful for the wisdom of Dr. Bob.
 l pray to be of service.
Love, Cate