Author: M

Day of Action was an eye-opening event to say the least. Through the facts and figures, the magnitude of issues such as extreme poverty and global HIV/AIDS is overwhelming, and, therefore, doubts in our ability to make any sort of significant difference as an individual or as a small group easily creep in our minds. Despite of reservations, some of us felt that the least we could do is educate ourselves on these issues. Some of us are still in school and others have jobs and families, but we refused to disregard the situation as too big to confront.

As you review facts and figures below, a strange sense of despair may set in as you’ll learn that millions of our brothers and sisters around the world are going hungry and struggling just to survive. But I encourage you to keep reading, and if you look deeper, you may also catch the glimpse of enormous effort of millions who seek to improve the lives of the most marginalized individuals in society.

The issue of poverty is widespread. Even in this land of plenty, more than one in 10 citizens live below the poverty line. In our own neighborhoods in Houston one in three children goes hungry each day, and Houston is second only to Detroit in the number of hungry children. While helping to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Kid’s Meal Project, it was heart-breaking to learn that the lunches we were putting together may be the only meal of the day for many children. Kid’s Meal Project provides 300 lunches for at-risk and special needs children of age 2 – 6 Monday through Friday between 9:45am and 12:30pm. To volunteer, please contact Maushmi@bethecause.org

Day of Action power point presentation:day-of-action.ppt
Fact sheet:aids-and-extreme-poverty-fact-sheet.doc
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Time after time the Healing Sounds event at the Houston Hospice turns out to be a profound experience for many of us volunteers. This time I came fact-to-face with a little angle. Only three days old, Emily was absolutely precious. It felt as though she was there just to bless us all who came in contact with her during her short journey. Except for her cleft lip and palate, Emily appeared to be a perfectly healthy baby. She was quiet and peaceful. Once in a while though she would open her tiny little eyes and stare at me. She was the most beautiful child I have ever seen, and I just could not believe when I was told that Emily had developmental problems during gestation and that she may not have as many as three more days to live. It was just so heart-breaking to hear that that I don’t question why her mother could not bare to be with her at the hospice.

As I held Emily in my arms, I started to wonder, “What would she tell me if she could speak?” Just then I realized that her very presence communicated a lot. It was as if the radiance on her face was suggesting that she knew that her time was short, but many of us are not so lucky to know how much longer we have, and, therefore, take things for granted. It was as if the beauty on her face was compelling me to go hug someone, to show how much I care, and not wait a second longer to do so because now is the time.

If you have ever hesitated or held back from listening to and following your heart, then now is the time. Don’t even wait a second longer because now and only now is the time.

Goodbye little angel and thank you for reminding us how precious each moment is.

Maushmi