Be the Cause

As I pulled into the Ralph’s parking lot, I thought to myself “This isn’t going to be easy!”.

I expected everyone to be apprehensive about allowing me to put their groceries into their cars. After all, it was a really dark evening, the return of the beard had its own connotations, and the aftermath of the rain storm had made everyone feel a little on edge. Nonetheless, Cheryl and I embarked on another miracle… transforming fear through random acts of kindness.

The first lady I contacted was the one that fueled me for the rest of the evening. I asked her how she was doing and she muffled her response, hoping that I wouldn’t engage in further dialogue. Maybe she hasn’t met BTC volunteers before, I thought. I dove right in for further exploration: How was her day? How long did it take to get to work in the morning? I battered back with numerous questions. As soon as she looked up from her groceries, I was ready. Smile on face, and Smile card in hand, I explained that she was the lucky recipient of an act of kindness. I proceeded to tell her that a few friends had decided to do nice things for others to make them feel better after the rain storm. Her apprehension quickly melted. She read the smile card as I put the groceries in the trunk of her mini-van. She was no longer in a rush to get away. As I took her cart back to the store, she looked me straight in the eyes and said “thank you”. Little does she know, the gratitude was all mine!!!

The highlight of the evening, however, was the couple in the white sports coupe. I eyed the attractive couple as they left the grocery store and followed them silently to their car. I pounced on the opportunity as soon as their trunk was ajar. Gleaming with enthusiasm I rushed the Smile card into his hands only to be let down by cold rejection again. I explained that we were there to help others… but he didn’t budge. He responded that we didn’t need to be there and refused any space for me to do my work. I glanced at his female friend and did notice a tinge of inspiration that has become all too familiar over the years. I decided to let it go and proceeded to help another shopper a short distance away. As I finished with my next victim, I turned to find the same white sports coupe waiting directly in front of me. As he sat in the driver’s seat, I noticed that the inspiration was now in his eyes. He asked to see the card and wondered what we were up to. I responded that we were helping random people in the hope that they would in turn help others. This time, he thought we were “cool”. He asked if he could keep the card, to which I obviously replied, “of course not”… he had to give the card away to someone else. Before he rushed off I stated, “one kind act at a time, that’s how we’ll change the world.”

Smiles :)
Sukh

Smile Cards:
http://www.helpothers.org

After the Walk, I have had several conversations with numerous folks on the structure of Be the Cause and how we proceed forward on upcoming projects. The conversations at times have been energizing and at others times, confusing (right in tune with our secret slogan of “confused into service”) :) . Although the path that lies ahead is not very well defined… it is still our path. Be the Cause, to me, has always set out to be different and to accomplish what most people consider to be impossible. … I think that all of us have witnessed the impossible many times in the last three years. Whether it is a food donation that came in at the last minute, a volunteer stepping in to take over a task that would have gone incomplete, or 500 people attending an event that was organized entirely by volunteers. Although none of these impossible feats have gone without hard work, dedication, or “trade-offs”, what we have accomplished has been nothing short of miraculous.

Embarking on achieving the impossible, however, means that there is no precedent path to follow… we will always be testing new waters, we will always have to find our own way, and we will always be at the beginning.

Maybe it is true what they say, that the “joy is in the journey”. Maybe it is those moments of uncertainty that define our greatest growth. We live in a world that is constantly focusing on end goals and preparing for something that will exist in some future date… and yet, the real changes that are happening, are happening right now.

The other day I thought of Be the Cause as the proverbial stew. Each and every one of us contributes a special ingredient. If we choose to put our love, compassion and integrity into this pot, then that is what we all drink. Thank you for choosing to put the best of what you have into something that is shared by so many.

I look forward to more “beginnings” with you all and to achieving many more milestones that most will consider impossible.

Someone once asked “what is the secret to Be the Cause?” People want to bottle up our secrets and distribute them to others. To me our secret can be written with four letters: “L – O – V – E”. What else are we doing? What else are giving away? I replied that there is definitely something special about service… unfortunately all I know is that it has nothing to do with me.

Sukh