Be the Cause blog

Below are stories from the Act of Kindess activity station at the Walk for Hope. 

Different Worlds Meet
By Pam 8/25/2006
A few years ago, I was flying from Amsterdam to San Francisco. I was hours early for my flight and decided to just go to the departure gate and read my book. It so happened that a flight to Tehran was scheduled to leave before mine from the same gate. I was quite interested to watch all the people milling around, about to board that flight.

I became aware of a young Iranian girl of about 14 watching me quite intently. I wondered what she found interesting about me, when I realised that she and I both found each other interesting for probably the same reasons. She possibly figured I wasn’t on her flight, but on the San Francisco one and therefore associated me with America. I wondered if this made her feel resentment. Meanwhile, I was contemplating what it might be like for her heading off to Tehran - a city whose name struck some trepidation in me. As her flight was called, she got up to join her family and board, but before she left, she turned around and gave me the warmest smile and a wave. I smiled back and waved enthusiastically at her. It warmed my heart. I’ve never forgotten her and think on her every time I hear of victims of war in the Middle East.
Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness. – Seneca, philosopher (4BC)
 

(more…)

Recipe:

 A dash of goodwill, a sprig of inspiration

Two tablespoons of unconditional love

heaps and heaps of understanding

 In the normal day to day world, we usually think that we have to be good at something in order to try it…

I’ve found that that kind of thinking doesn’t fly in be the cause…and it gives me hope. Because there really are no limits to what someone can or cannot do when love and service is involved.

I have realized that my mind doesn’t only work in one way. I’m creative, yet have learned how to hear a different language and pretty much understand what is being said through non verbal behavior(smiles, tone of voice, hands in prayer)…I have learned the basics of travel and how worry and fear can be completely wiped out by the warmth of community. I have seen events put together with an incredible ease despite the overwhelming amount of work ahead. I have found myself completing initiatives in a volunteer group that I would usually shy away from and immediately doubt my knowledge of a subject and close the book without letting myself go through the steps needed to learn. We are harsh judges of ourselves at times…what I’ve learned is that mountains move when compassion, inspiration, hope and love are involved…

 Here are some quotes that relate:

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn. - Benjamin Franklin

If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing.
A saying from Zimbabwe

Progress involves risk. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.
Frederick Wilcox

Do not let what you can not do interfere with what you can do.
John Wooden

I put the recipe listed above to be clever possibly, but mainly to show that no particular skill, ability was necessary, and the truth is…there was no recipe involved in making these hand-made quotes…as long as it comes from the heart, there is no mistake.

Tick…tock.. tick…tock…. It’s 7pm! The night before the Walk for Hope. I’m still at work in a battle against time, trying to beat time before the night ends.

It’s Friday night, so there’s a lot happening outside my work. The bars are full, restaurants have long waits, movies are playing, friends are going out and the parties are starting. While most of the people I know are engaged in usual Friday night unwinding ways, there is a very small group of volunteers working so hard to make sure the Walk for Hope goes well in the morning.

I’m left with this choice to pick only one thing to do after work. That means I have to sacrifice the rest. I have to make the right choice since I will never get this night back. What if I make the wrong choice? What if I sacrifice the wrong things? This choice has to benefit what I believe in, which is being part of spreading more love to others. That’s what brings me the lasting joy even after the night is over. Every single day I’ve been given this opportunity to choose.

So I’ve chosen to listen to myself and decide to be true to my feelings. My big plan is to sleep. I want to give my best energy to help set up the park at 4:30am in next morning. I want to be a part of making people happy hoping they’ll do the same to the people they come across. After running few unexpected errands for the walk, I managed to get 4 hours of sleep.

Waking up 3:30am is not hard at all. I realize that the hard part is over, which was choosing the path. Everything else I am about to do today is easy. I realize that I’ve chosen to be a part of making people happy and expect nothing in return. I am inspired by so many people to wake up 3:30 in the morning, my roommate, Luz, who have chosen to wake up with me today, knowing my dear friends: Kristeen & Biba are doing the same, Maushmi flying in from Houston, David flying in from Kansas, Charity focus friends driving down from Northern California, all the volunteers that set the alarm to be at the park, all the walkers who cleared their calendars to give us this opportunity to serve and there were so many. These are all added bonus for the journey I am taking.

Meeting everyone at 4:30am is amazing. The morning is cool, peaceful and the volunteers have the perfect energy that I need to rub off of. I helped set up parking and few other things in the early morning. Karuna has me driving around the park rest of the time taking care of all the crossing guards and activity stations till the walk was over. I couldn’t ask for anything better to do. It is such a perfect day outside. We have the total support from Mother Nature. I feel incredible. Even though I don’t get to see how the walkers were enjoying our gift, my heart is happy knowing that I’m spending this energy being part of a beautiful concept of spreading love. I am driving and thinking how thankful I am to every single volunteer & every single walker. Without them, I would never be able to feel what I’m feeling at this moment. I would never feel this by writing a check or hearing about it. It’s not a feeling that I can imagine without being involved in the process.

Seva Café at night is the most busiest I’ve ever seen. It’s unbelievable for me to see Maushmi, Raju, Sudi, Sukh & few others who were at the park at 4:30am also serving at Seva Café the same night. It’s clear that their bodies have passed the exhaustion level long ago by this time; it must be the power of their spirit that sends signals to the brain to keep going.

I try everyday to be that person I look up to. I try everyday to be the change I wish to see in others. I’m so fortunate to be given this opportunity today. There are so many directions I could have taken my life in. I’m so fortunate to witness so many beautiful souls in the path I’ve chosen to travel on this day. It’s too much for me to keep looking at life as a big picture; I just take each moment as it comes to me to make the right choice. Time is the most precious thing in my life. If there was no tomorrow for me, I want to be happy about the things I’ve done today.

From Biba:

My most inspiring moment at Walk for hope was the moment I discovered what it meant for one determined soul. As Luz and I joyfully crossed all the precious walkers of the Walk for hope at the main gates. One guest and soul really touch our lives. Mr. Larry entered the main gates, by foot, at approximately 12:15pm. He seemed dazed and confused, tired, but full of joy and determination. We asked him if he needed some help. He asked us to show him the way to the registration for the Walk For Hope. Signs were starting to be taken down. So we told him that he could start the walk from where he was standing and continue walking and see the remaining quotes that were located from the Main gates to the registration booths. Where he could then easily register after the inspirational journey. But we could see the tiredness on this gentleman’s face. And then he spoke, and we became inspired. He gently told us that he was tired. He relayed his journey to us ~ Mr. Larry arrived via a bus all the way from downtown Los Angeles. Where the bus dropped him off two miles away from Eldorado park, where he walked all the way from the bus stop to the park. Wow, this is determination and pure love for the Walk For Hope!      

However upon arrival Mr. Larry was determined to register first. He ask for the way. And I provided him with a short cut to the registration booth. Luz and I finished our precious service and then headed back to the Grove Garden grounds where the festivities and fun and the beautiful volunteers were. The whole time our eyes were on a search for Mr. Larry, hoping to find him and either give him a ride or find him one. We got involved with some tasks, where help was needed.

And while placing boxes and booth material into the big truck, I saw Mr. Larry. He was getting into a car with another gentleman. He found a ride! I ran towards the car. To find out both gentleman’s names so that I could share their great acts of determination and kindness with everyone. And to say thanks to Mr. Larry and Mr. Tony of KPFK for this wonderful experience and lesson of life. Thank you Mr. Larry for your will and efforts and for igniting the power of determination, and especially for your love and passion for the wonderful Walk For Hope.

And Thank you Mr. Tony for your wonderful act of kindness.

- Biba

The below comments have come from friends on the Walk for Hope:

That was THE BEST Walk for Hope!  You all are so organized and have a great group of dedicated individuals who know how to empower people to make changes in their lives!  
Sherri Loveland
Orange County Interfaith Coalition for the Environment

My Dear Be The Cause Family,
Wow! What an event. Again, you guys rocked it!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing the love & opening your arms to all the participants & beneficiaries of this year’s Walk For Hope. The amazing energy & positive vibe throughout the event was felt by so many.
Thank you so much for allowing LifeNets to participate this year & gain so much exposure & support from so many.
I feel honored, rejuvenated & totally blessed after Sunday….. I hope it carries me throughout this year.
Love you all,
Sonali (Fiske)
LifeNets International

Joanne & Sukh,
Joanne, I did forward your thank you to the girls…I will be sure to get
their emails to you soon to include them in the happenings of TIAS ARMS &
BE THE CAUSE. Thank you to both you and Sukh for taking the time to spend
with these girls on such a busy day, this meant a lot to me as well as
the young ladies of Webb. They are motivated, even more so, and enthused
about community service from Walk for Hope and Be the Cause. They
couldn’t get enough literature from the booths and learning about all the
needs around the world. I am sure we will be seeing them again.
Love,
Tina