Sacred Life Sunday: Inspiration....

Try this:

For the next few days, find inspiration in every person you meet. Deliberately look for it, regardless of who it might be or the circumstances.

It changes the landscape.

Completely.

~*

Inspiration....

Earlier I had a post up about terrorism and the Bush Administration. I decided to get rid of it because after seeing it, it occurred to me that I really didn't want to bring that energy here. I'd rather write about something inspirational and affirming.

So, instead, I came up with a list of people I find particularly inspiring.

Ani Tenzin Palmo: .. is a woman who was raised in Britain. Finding that her life seemed empty and hollow in a materialistic society, she began to search for something more. For 12 years, three of them in completely isolation, she meditated in a tiny cave in the Himalayas. For days on end, she would live on one piece of rice a day. She learned self-sufficiency. She never lay down, sleeping in a traditional wood meditation box. These days, she runs a Buddhist nunnery which is dedicated to providing education and training to women in Tibet. She inspires me because of her courage to do whatever she needed to do to come out the other side and still remains committed to simplicity and service.

Nelson Mandela: Not only because he spent time in prison but because he brought dignity to any environment where he might be. While in prison, he made it clear to the guards that they would show each other respect. They would call each other "sir". He inspires me to recognize the dignity in all situations.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand: His commitment to the hill tribes and other poverty-stricken people of Northern Thailand inspires me. He has consistently put the needs of the Thai people ahead of his own luxury and comfort. His generosity inspires me. He could have been just another playboy on the world stage but instead chose to do something of value. His self-sufficiency program has provided a decent life for thousands, maybe even millions, of people.

Maxmilian Kolbe; Now St Maximilian after having been canonized by the Catholic Church. He was a Polish priest who was herded with many others to the Auschwitz concentration camp. At one point, standing at an assembly of other prisoners, he heard the Nazi guards threatening to kill a young man. He stood forward and said, "This man has a family. He has children. Take my life instead." He inspires me, knowing that there are people in the world who would make such a sacrifice.

These are just a few of the people who have inspired me. Of course, there are many more and over the weeks, I'll do posts similar to this one.

Who inspires you? Tell me so that I can learn about those people, too.


Peace,


~Chani