One of my favorite charitable organizations is Heifer Project International. I have gone on several field trips with my children to Heifer's headquarters in Perryville, Arkansas. I am always impressed at how everything-right down to the cow dung-is put to use in a beneficial and balanced way. There is never any waste, and this is what Heifer teaches to those under-privileged people they help. How often do I toss out something that could be recycled? And do it without giving any thought as to how that item could be recycled to benefit the planet...
I was fortunate on one of those field trips to be taken on a tour of the global village portion of the Perryville headquarters complex. This is an area where houses and other structures have been built that are typical in different countries around the globe. Some structures were more livable than others, having been constructed of brick, stone, and straw. One house was dome shaped with a fireplace in the center of the floor. There is a house on stilts that can be entered only by climbing a ladder.
The home that impressed me most, however, wasn't a solid structure at all. It was made of cardboard boxes that were flattened and attached in any way that could be managed. Our guide explained that on weekend field trips, groups of young people are assigned to live in these houses. On a recent weekend, it rained the entire time these children were there, and it was quite a miserable experience for those who were assigned the cardboard house. I was horrified as I realized that people live in situations such as this day in and day out in some places around the globe. It's quite humbling when you come to understand that even the most humble abode in our country would seem opulent to those who live in such depressed circumstances.
During their weekend in the global village, each group is given certain food, supplies and water for their overnight stay. However, one group may get rice and beans but no water. Or no way to start a fire to cook. They are free to go to their neighbors and trade or to work together for the greater good of the entire group. Of course, each group is also free to ignore the others and keep what they have been given to themselves. The groups that do best are those that work together as a complete community so that everyone is fed.
When my oldest son was 15 years old, he went on his first mission trip to Jamaica. The group he was with were helping to build houses for those less fortunate. It's very hard to impress a 15 year old boy. After his week in Jamaica, however, he told me how impressed he was with the Jamaican people. He said, "Mom, they have so little, but they're all so happy. They appreciate what they have, and they appreciated what we were doing for them."
We have so much in this country. Granted, some people have more than others. But I think sometimes we have so much that we aren't able to enjoy those things we have. In my case, the things-the house, the car, all those things I was paying for-owned me instead. I never got to enjoy what I had because I was so consumed with making enough to pay for those things and acquiring more. Since releasing so many of the things in my life a year ago, I've discovered I am much happier. No, I no longer have the home, but I live in a loving home with a beautiful sacred space that is mine. I have food to eat and clothes on my back. My time is no longer consumed with how I'm going to pay for things. I am in constant communion with Spirit and surrounded by people who love me. I have time to savor every moment of each day and to truly enjoy the blessings of life. And for all of this I am truly grateful.
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