By Sierra Kovash
Hands and Feet
Like I have said before, I am not a super-religious person so I generally stray from quoting the Bible unless it is a true heart verse that I live my life by, or I am trying to prove someone wrong and/or calling someone out for beings hypocrite; one of my favorite things to do. (I never said I was perfect.)
Another reason I stay away from it, is because I really really don’t want to be called out as a hypocrite, and since I know that many people out there know their bible more than me, I generally stay out of it. With that said I am going to share a couple of the teachings that I live my life by. I think that almost everyone of any religion/ or no religion can appreciate what I am about to say.
John 15:12 says “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” If you know anything about Christianity, you know that means love em’ with all you got! Follow that up with I am a kind-of-sort-of-when-I-actually-go Catholic. I believe in the Angels and Saints, so here is a sprinkle of St. Teresa of Avila “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
Why am I rambling on about hands and feet and loving everyone? Well, it is about personal philosophy. The sick, the desolate, the elderly don’t get taken care of magically. They need compassionate people to care for them. “Love others as I have loved you.” That tells me everything I need to know. To take these weary hands and feet and move mountains for the people who can’t. I was given skills, a healthy body, a partially healthy mind, common sense and a heart that sees the pain in the world for a reason.
I believe I was put on this earth to do good things. I was put in a position to help people. Helping people means something different every time. Whether it is clothing, food, shelter, and sometimes even business consulting. I believe something else, too – I believe I am not alone in this endeavor.
I believe everyone has the ability to make change in the world. Rich or poor, young and old, we all have a place on this earth and we all have a role in making it a better place. It doesn’t take a lot to do a good deed. Pick up the litter you see, volunteer (it’s free, and it gives you free feel-good hormones), donate your car change, help your kids have a bake sale for a charity, donate 1 percent of your check to a local non-profit (even just once). If life provides excess and you don’t enjoy your excess, spread it around. I know in my heart that you will be glad you did.
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” ―Charles Dickens