Patch Adams and Nathan inspire Tom

I've been pretty full of thoughts the past couple of days, and when I woke up this morning, I decided, hey, I think I'm moved again! I think I should change the name of this blog (or just develop a new nickname) to Tom the Turtle's blog. However, this is probably an insult to turtles who are all able to move faster than I can. And I can accept that. I'm slow. I have great thoughts; they just take forever to get out of my head. I'll get going with my topic now.

Giving, generosity, unselfishness, benevolence. So that's my topic.

My first thoughts came from a packet I got from my church's lenten workshop on prayer. In it is a description of the kind of prayer that is most beneficial as determined by one's personality type. So as a self described INFP, I need to pray alone most of the time. It also says I need to set aside an hour every day for prayer. I should read short Bible passages from 2nd Isaiah, Psalms, Gospels, and Pauline letters in order to find one or two verses that I can meditate on and use over and over. It says INFPs usually don't like formal prayers, but I'm enjoying saying the rosary every day. It is very calming and actually helps me to focus my prayer. I guess I like the rosary because I don't think of it as formal prayer but rather a chant that allows me to meditate. So obviously, if formal prayer isn't my thing, spontaneous prayers of thanksgiving, praise, and humility are great for me. I should also keep a journal to help record the inspirations God gives me (does this blog count? partially).

Ok, so all of that is about my prayer life (not about giving). And I wasn't really going anywhere with that, except that the last point in the article about INFPs states that "there is a real danger of the INFP becoming too introverted, too self-centered" and "INFPs must make a special effort every day to forget themselves and reach out to others. The INFP must not wait until whole and healed before reaching out to heal and help others. The INFP should begin his/her day with: 'What can I do today to make others happier and better for having met me?'"

So that got me thinking. Thinking about how much time I'm saying/writing/proclaiming that community service is my thing, that it's the best way to spend my time, that it is so awesome. And then thinking about how much time I actually do spend by doing community service. Yes, I do some. But not nearly enough. I hate being hypocritical, but I love catching myself in it and stopping it and growing because of it. So that's what I'll try to do.

Ok so fastforward a day (from having read the article). It's after youth group. Everyone is standing in the parking lot, talking, having fun. A man in his 60's, perspiring heavily, carrying a gas can, and followed by a bunch of children approaches us. He had ran out of gas and was asking for help. So I was going to walk over to the gas station with him and get him some gas, and that would be it. Then my friend (Nathan, who unfortunately, doesn't read anyone's blog, I don't think) called to wait up. That he would come with me. So I thought, ok, Nathan wants to make sure I'm safe. (for anyone reading this who doesn't know Nathan, he's strong) (and anyone reading this who doesn't know me, I'm not) But then as we walked, Nathan was just talking. First to me, just having fun. Then to the guy, trying to get to know him, asking how he's doing, what happened, where he's from. Nathan was easily able to connect with him as a human, whereas I would have been satisfied to have not talked with him at all, to just get the gas, seeing him as a problem to be fixed. And that's a depressing thought. Because I have great intentions to help people, but I'm not good at it at all when I try to. And I admire Nathan for his ability to look past the problem to the person. And act accordingly.

I have a question to pose to everyone. What do you do when someone, such as this man, asks for money? Personally, I decide on a case by case basis. But I need to have input from minds wiser than my own. (so please comment)

Then once I got home (and by home I mean dogsitting), I watched Patch Adams. And that was great. That movie can inspire greatness, let my tell you.

So I just want to be working on, first, making an effort to give a whole lot more each day, and second, connecting with people in a fuller way. To see everyone as both a patient and a doctor (as Patch does). To let my guard down, have fun, be goofy, and have a positive effect on people.

Lately, I feel like I've been taking life way too seriously. And that needs to stop. Because if life is too serious, then there is no life.

Laugh with people. Cry with people. Have compassion. And be generous.