“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire seems to go out, whereupon it is then burst into flame again by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” ~ Albert Schweitzer

One year ago today, while preparing to set forth on a 900+ mile Peace Pilgrimage from Chattanooga (Tennessee) to Pompano Beach (Florida), I received an invitation from one Robert Estling to share about my Journey at his Seraphim Center (in Gainesville). The week prior to his offer, I had sent several hundred emails to pastors and community leaders all along my proposed route, informing them of my Pilgrimage, and offering to stop-over and share about my Journey with them & theirs if they wished …

… Robert was one of two who responded.

Now I fully understand why a group leader would be more than hesitant to invite a stranger to speak to his or her congregation — especially a “freak” like me. I do not hide the fact that my message of “radical Kindness” is a challenging one, and I openly refuse to receive any compensation for sharing about its Selfless Way. This is one scary combination for most folks, and I am not at all surprised that so few responded to my offer.

And yet this is not a post about rejection, but rather one about acceptance. It is not a post about fear, but rather a testimony to Courage.

I am sure that Robert was a tad nervous about inviting me to share for his friends. I could have been a thinly disguised religious zealot … I could have been completely off my rocker … I could have been a rambling lunatic, for that matter. And yet Robert Estling heard that the message was Love, and that was enough for him to take the risk … Robert Estling set aside his very reasonable fears and extended a hand of Kindness … Robert Estling chose to shrug his shoulders and open himself up to a stranger.

Long story shortened: I walked the Pilgrimage and did indeed make it to Gainesville, where Robert treated me like royalty from minute one — showing me gentle Kindness from the day he picked me up in Lake City to the morning I departed for Orlando a few days thereafter. Indeed, the healing care he showed me during that time was one of the reasons I was able to complete my Pilgrimage a few weeks later. Robert chose to be the change we wish to see, and he inspires me still to do the same.

Robert passed away last December 30th, and I honor him today.

None of us knows how long we have to live, and it is very easy to get lost in the busy-ness of our everyday lives and forget the fact that today could very well be our last day.

Death is on its way to us all — this much is certain, and yet we need not become immobilized by a fear of it. Regardless of our various religious beliefs (or complete lack thereof), the only thing that is certain about “the afterlife” is that we are all going to be surprised …

No, instead of fearing my death or, even worse, ignoring it, today I choose to live in the full awareness of my very real mortality … Today I will live as if this day is going to be my last … Today I am going to live in such a way that I will be able to pass onward with a gentle smile on my face and a soft “Thank You” on my lips.

And the only way to do so is to have the courage to Care for others — to be Kind to the strangers I encounter; to let my Friends know how much we Love them; to say a resounding “Yes!” to every opportunity I am given to serve another.

I remember that it will be no solace to me on my deathbed to think about all the “fun” I had during this lifetime (though fun is quite the nice thing to enjoy) … Indeed, the only thought that will bring us peace while we pass on is the knowledge that we honored the Gift of Life by using it to help others enjoy their own …

… and today is the perfect day, indeed the only day, to start re-membering this!

So let’s get out there & have some fun with that … 😉

“Live every day as if it’s your last — because one day, maybe soon, you’re gonna be right.” ~ Ray Charles

Filed under: Wisdoms from the Journey by Scaughdt