In a time when we often find ourselves divided instead of united,

Be reminded, there is only one force that overcomes fear and hate,

LOVE makes US great!

Last month, the community focus week reflected on the story of the child confronted with hundreds of beached starfish. This week, I heard an old parable for the first time, and I'm compelled to share it with others – The War Horse and the Sparrow. Thank you to Anne Lamott for sharing this parable in her latest book, Somehow.

It goes something like this,

A grand war horse was galloping along when she came upon a small sparrow in the middle of the road. The sparrow was on its back, with its legs pointed firmly up to the sky. The sparrow's eyes were squinted shut in concentration. The horse asked, "What on earth are you doing?" The sparrow replied, "I'm holding back the darkness." The horse laughed and mocked, "That is ridiculous; what do you weigh an ounce? You can't possibly make a difference!" To which the sparrow responded, with deepened resolve, "One does what one can."

One does what one can. There are so many needs in our world, too many to count. Every little bit helps and sometimes the universe delivers in unexpected and serendipitous ways.

I am currently in the process of moving. How I’ve managed to accumulate so much STUFF boggles my mind. How to get rid of it in an environmentally conscious way is a challenge. 

I hoped to gift goods to someone just starting out to kit out an entire kitchen, but my contact fell through. As divine "luck" would have it, the handyman I hired had just learned of a member of his church community who was starting over and could use the supplies. By 4 pm that same day, the truck was loaded up, and someone had supplies to cook and start a home.

Does it matter that one member of my community is now a little more comfortable? I believe so. Might one more member of my community with a fuller belly help to feed another? I believe so. One does what one can.

Love in our community means sharing our abundance in the service of others. Our dollars, our time, even our stuff.

Please share, what stuff do you have that can be of service to another rather than filling our already overflowing landfill?

Love requires participation. Love requires sharing. Love requires action. Love requires commitment.  

With gratitude,

Joyce Aiko

(yes, love really is my middle name)