Opportunity Lost?

by Ariel Michael

     Many wonder about the true purpose of their lives.  Some of us feel compelled to do great works or deeds. Some feel as if God is calling them to run for president of the USA. Others are content with just living a good life by helping others around them. As I would learn, we are all on our own path, and no two reach enlightenment and experience in the same way. This is a wonderful aspect of diversity.

     We may live out our lives in a very simple way of concern for others without knowledge that we could still be hurting others. We are not isolated. What we do, whether for selfish reasons or altruistic ones, affects those around us and even those we have never met. For example, I’ve written and warned us about our responsibility to protect life and our environment and to be good stewards for future generations. This is a shared responsibility by all living people. As individuals, we may not rise to the challenge of making this a mission in our lives, but we shouldn’t forget that we are responsible for what others will experience. By buying disposable items from plastic bottles, plastic razors, electronics, batteries, packaging, and contributing to litter without recycling, we are leaving a legacy for our children to have to mine our garbage to find resources they will one day need. We are a society that is cutting down forests, paving wetlands, polluting our water and air, and this month, we will reach seven billion humans on this earth.

     This is just one example of what we take for granted in our lives that may not seem significant now, but will affect others in the future. Every gallon of gasoline burned by each of us will affect all of us eventually. It isn’t insignificant if you multiply that by billions of us. We must not plead ignorance to how we affect others. Are we willing to live sustainably?
 
     So if you look all around, you will see that much work needs to be done. Yes, it starts with a kind word to a stranger or giving aid to a homeless person you meet on the street. It starts with turning your attention to spiritual matters of helping others and being an honest and good person. Yet it doesn’t stop there, and it doesn’t just mean stopping at a point of convenience in your life and patting yourself on the back for a job well done.

     It begins with the daily realization that we are missing opportunities when we live without moving all of us toward a peaceful and giving society with compassion for all including the criminals and others not like us. We should never disregard nature with its plants and animals, nor anything else about our world and the unborn yet to come.

     We all are made of the same fabric from God, and we must be humble regarding our future work and deeds. The tireless work of Mother Teresa is a guide for all us, and I’m reminded of what Jesus said to me,

The most humble of heroes is one who does their deeds without ever being acknowledged for them, who is kind and caring and noble, but no one ever knows. That is a true hero, and all of us want to be that hero, so even if you make noble acts, remember that the true hero would keep them to themselves. I know we can all be true heroes, maybe not in big ways, or save many lives in your lifetime, or if you go around the world helping people in the poorest of countries. But, you can always do your part maybe even in the smallest acts like being kind to people, or helping a neighbor out, or even just being humble.

     So remember to not miss the most important opportunity your life has to offer and that is for you to progress on your spiritual journey by helping those around you, which means taking effort to see that you give more than you took in this world.

     God loves and cares for all of us. We should do the same for each other. I wish you blessings on your soul-journ.   

                                                                                    —30—

Ariel Michael has a regular column in The New Era Times callled My Soul-Journ.

You can learn more about Ariel Michael at the following websites:

ArielMichael.com

Beyond-My-World.com