Communicating with Spirit

Where to Begin to Help the MOST Needy? June 4, 2009

Although many people are involved in projects that help others, there are also many of us who are searching for ways to help those who are in dire poverty: those without safe places to live, food to eat and medical attention available.

As we begin our search for the best ways to help others,  sometimes we confront feelings that are difficult to cope with. It is only in facing ourselves and our feelings that we can move ahead and give to the world.

The following are suggestions in overcoming the obstacles to providing help:

Coping With Extreme Sadness: Many people who have visited parts of their own country or parts of other countries where they have seen people dying on the street, are gripped with such intense sorrow that it can be almost impossible to cope with.   For some of us this sadness is the first step in realizing that we must give up some of what we have to others.  For some of us the pain is so overwhelming that we have to turn our backs and say “There are so many starving people, that there is nothing I can do.”

Seeing others dying or in deep pain can also activate sadness about the difficulties we have had in our own lives.  When this happens we can either evoke compassion for our own problems and the problems of others, or we can become again so overwhelmed with our own problems that all we can feel is anger and we are not able to help either ourselves or others.

One of the first steps in helping others is to find a way to cope with the sadness we experience. If we cannot cope with the emotional pain, we will most likely turn our backs on those who are desperate.

Making An Assessment of What One Can Do: Everyone can be helpful no matter what their life situation. Some have money to give, others do not. Some have time to give, others do not. There is no one way to help. There IS a way for each of us to help depending on our own life circumstances.  If we have money, then it is time to identify where we want to donate: to charitable organizations, or perhaps to a friend we know who is desperate at the moment.  If we are barely paying our own bills, then we do not have much money to donate at all, but we can research organizations that need money, and start a campaign to raise money by contacting all of our friends and acquaintances who DO have money to spend.

Years ago, I used to give pot luck parties to raise money for charitable organizations.  Everyone brought a dish, the musicians in the group played some music, and everyone donated what they could to the organization featured that evening. When possible, a member of the charitable organization spoke to us about the needs of their group.  A good time was had by all, and money was raised for the charity.  We did not raise alot of money: a few hundred dollars, but every penny helps when the need is great.

Some have no money to donate, but alot of time on their hands.  I know people and I am sure you also know those who are volunteering their time to groups such as Meals on Wheels or who volunteer in a hospice.  My sister in law Julie is in China at the moment volunteering her skills as a physical therapist, teaching parents of disabled children how to help their kids. Another sister in law Sharon, creates paintings that she sells to raise money for Babies Need Food. I am sure you know people in  your family who work for others, and perhaps you do yourself.

Coping with Complainers: On the other hand we also know people with alot of time on their hands who spend most of their time complaining and do not do anything to help themselves or others.  Perhaps we can gentley suggest to our complaining friends that there are many community groups that could use their help. Or if we are one of the complainers then perhaps we need to give ourselves a swift “you know what” and get ourselves out  of our own misery. If I am a complainer, I could better use my time reading to those who cannot see, or visiting the senior center and helping out.

Understanding That GIVING is NOT Always Easy: There has been a great deal written in the past few years about being kind to people as in “random acts of kindness.”  Being kind on a daily basis is VERY important and this comment in not meant to be critical of daily kindness.  But let us now fool ourselves into thinking that smiling at someone in the supermarket is going to put food on the table of starving people.  Of course it is important to be kind to people everywhere, all the time.  But we need to do more than that, and not rationalize that we are doing our part for humanity by simply being kind in the supermarket or on the highway.

Giving is sometimes painful. Remember the moment in the movie “Ghost” when Whoopie hands over the million dollar check to the Salvation Army?  She keeps trying to let go of the check, but it is obvious by her facial expressions that this is VERY hard to do!

Have you ever given something you really love to another family member, and struggled as you let go of your favorite piece of jewelry? Giving is a challenge. I personally find it impossible to give up things of mine that are sentimental. I can more easily give of my time or make a donation. Give up some silly thing of mine that I love? No, I cannot do it yet. I am working on it.

Helping is a Win Win Project: If we are able to cope with the extreme feelings of sadness that seeing the world problems brings, and if we can access our own lives to determine the ways that we can help and the ways we cannot, then we are on the road to becoming more helpful. We all know how incredible it feels to be of service to others.  When we are helpful we get in touch with the aspects of our consciousness that are closer to the Divine.  It is this connection to a power greater than ourselves, that brings inner peace and happiness.  It does not matter what words we use: God, Higher Power, Divine, Beloved.

I have a long ways to go as I learn to be more giving.  How about you?

Author and Psychic Medium Carole Lynne

www.carolelynne.com

www.carolelynnecosmicconnection.com