Just imagine all that the words on this monument imply—that Japanese-American men who were sent to internment camps by their government would risk and even give their lives on behalf of that same country. Perhaps the greatest courage is to cultivate a heart bigger than those that surround you.
How do you cultivate a bigger heart?
A bigger heart? It’s a continual process of seeing what’s going on around oneself. Noticing or listening or feeling that someone has something to solve or appears to need some kind of help is ever present. For instance, I remember that Martin has been a regular contributor to this site. His words and thoughts have not been present recently. I miss that contact. The most personal comment I can make is this: when I find that someone needs immediate help, I try to assist. That’s a time when I think it matters the most. If I can possibly drop everything and go, that’s making me push to the limits sometimes. Others have done that for me; I should always try to do the same.
Patt, I hadn’t realized that anyone really cared whether or not I post. I have a lot going on in my life right now and feel like I’m spread too thin. I’ll try to get to the Daily Compass a bit more often, though.
Martin, I’m sure that you will figure out how much and when you will participate in writing in the Daily Compass. It is good for all of us to exchange our thoughts when we can, I think.
How to grow a bigger heart? Good question. I think following the path set by Jesus of Nazareth is a good start. He laid the way for all of us. Help the poor & needy with any excess remaining from caring for your own. If you have no responsibility to others, go to the ends of your resources. Jesus said that the poor will alwaysbe with us. Many people ask why? I believe they are always with us to give us opportunities to exercise our free will to give freely from our resources thereby expanding the size of our heart. We also face trials & tribulations of our own to help us develop our sense of empathy & compassion toward those who are less fortunate than we are. That is how we grow & become instruments of transformation of humanity into peaceful gentle & compassionate people. Then our great dream of peace & good will toward all. Then love will be used to end all conflict. It’s the only way. Hate & war have never been able to bring peace & harmony to the world. Only love & compassion for others have turned peoples’s troubles into blessings.
Jonee, your comments about the responsibilities we have to confront tribulations in the world so that peace and goodwill can exist inspire me to consider that these trials of the world have a reason for being; to alert us to the needs that exist and that we can be the agents of change to better the situation… thank you.