I know you are sitting there thinking how cheesy and stupid I am for copying an idea from a cheesy 90's movie. Actually the idea was derived from a play in Athens around 317 AD. The text was lost and later republished in 1957. In an 1841 essay, Ralph Waldo Emerson mentioned this idea in an essay "Compensation", saying, "in the order of nature we cannot render benefits to those whom we receive them, or only seldom. But the benefit we receive Must be rendered again! Line by line, deed for deed, cent for cent to somebody." The philosophy is simple, perform a random act of kindness to anyone and they will pay it forward. The whole concept revolves around true love for our fellow man. Let your judgments be gone, and show unconditional love to people of all races, ethnicity, sex, nationalitity, etc... There are many people in the world or even that we see everyday that are going deeper and deeper into the woods in which I wandered. Give them a guiding light. I say to you and me, reach out a hand, show them people do care and life is precious. There are too many tragedies of murders, overdoses, drunk driving, etc.. that may have been able to be stopped if we took one second to quit thinking about ourselves and lend a hand. Depression is a beatable disease, addiction is a curable disease. "Be the change you want to see in the world", (Ghandi). It starts with us. People all around us are hurting, but we are too blind to see them. "The purpose of human life is to serve, and show compassion and the will to help others." (Albert Schweitzer). Romans 13:8 states, "Owe no one anything except to love each other, for the one who loves one another has fulfilled the law.".
The only flaw is hatred. Hatred for our enemies, hatred for "sinners" (you know we all sin right), hatred for people who look different, talk different, speak different, think different. It's because as humans we are so engrossed by like minded people we do not understand these "foreign creatures" and when we don't understand things we fear them which then turns to hatred. This is where the 2nd and hardest part of the revolution comes into play...forgiveness. It is something we all must learn to do wholeheartedly. Henry Beecher said, "I can forgive but cannot forget is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note torn in two, and burned up so that it never can be shown again.". We have to forgive from the bottom of our hearts, and if we can do that, not only can we help others more effectively but your heart will be free of hatred, therefore your mind opens and your senses kick in and you will find freedom in your own soul.
As I said earlier we all sin. "He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven" (Thomas Fuller). All I ask is to spread love to all humanity by simple tasks. When I was in the darkest place of my life, I would sometimes get a random text message, and that simple sentance the text contained would contain would change my whole day. Never underestimate the power of love, no matter how small the gesture. For those who can't let go of thier old ways, "I pray someday you will join us" John Lennon Imagine (sorry i love the Beatles). Remember nobody is above you and nobody is below you, but if you choose, we can all stand beside you.
Breck...Beatles said it best "All you need is love" Please leave comments here or on facebook of your simple acts of love that may have changed a person's world. I want to hear about them!
