Inspiration #7 – Kindness Blessings

“Synchronicity”

“A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.” –Kurt Vonnegut

Experiences of synchronicity indicate to me that I’m in the right place as I believe meaningful coincidences are the road signs of life. When you experience something synchronistic, keep moving in the direction you are going. Something of meaning is either happening or about to happen.

As I mentioned in the assignment, finding an entire chapter devoted to a concept created by Kurt Vonnegut is a big example. In fact, the first time I read this book I was also reading Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle,” the book that contains the concept Remen references. As a refresher, it’s called a karass and it means a group of people who have come together to complete some high purpose.

I think this is going on all the time, people coming together to complete something significant. And while Vonnegut says that the people involved may not be aware of what they are doing, I think it’s not only possible but important to develop a trusting attitude about it. In other words, we don’t need to always understand the purpose. We don’t even need to know that we are fulfilling one. But what IS important is how we go about doing our part. Simply, in everything we do our job is to behave in a positive, mindful way.

Also of importance, in “Cat’s Cradle” Vonnegut explains the concept of a false karass, what he calls a granfalloon. A granfalloon is a group of people who think they have a connection but in reality they don’t. A lot of misery gets created by people trying to defend their granfalloons. For instance, sports fans get worked up cheering for their team and hating the fans of other teams. When you stop and think about it, it’s kind of silly, getting mad at somebody because of his allegiance to a particular football team. But the concept is more significant when extended to include wars fought over the idea that my way of living is better than yours and I need to beat you into submission.

Link to Book: “My Grandfather’s Blessings”

Assignment #7 – Kindness Blessings

Week 7 : Family of Service

“In the presence of another member of your family of service, that loneliness may ease a little.”

Reading: Read Section IV. From this section, choose one chapter that resonates in some significant way with you and share either it or the concept that resonates with you with someone you think will appreciate it, ideally someone from your “family of service.”

Kind Action: I was thrilled when I first read the chapter “How the World is Made.” It is based on a concept from a Kurt Vonnegut novel. Given my affinity for Kurt Vonnegut, this week’s action just had to be based on this chapter. First, consider the concept of a “karass” in order to find someone outside of your family you feel deeply connected to. Having chosen this person, acknowledge her/his importance to you by doing something kind for her/him, something that resonates deeply for you and recognizes this person’s uniqueness.

Blessings Journal: Write down the names of people from your life that you feel or have felt a deep connection to. Did you feel this connection immediately or over time? Also, pay attention to the people you encounter this week, those you know and strangers. If something meaningful occurs to you because of this, take note of it in your journal.

Link to Book: “My Grandfather’s Blessings”

Reflection #6 – Kindness Blessings

“Perfect Timing”

“Meaning is the language of the soul.”

A couple of years ago I was told a story by a woman in her late 50′s. Her grandmother was a famous quilter who nearly 60 years earlier had made a quilt that had recently been found, unused, along with the original note her grandmother had written when she gave the quilt to a family with a new baby. No explanation was given as to why the quilt had never been used, nor what circumstances led to it being found. It was offered to the woman who excitedly accepted it, and from the note she determined that it was made the same year she was born. She had found a meaningful object and a life lesson. She began wrapping herself in the quilt each day and, in her words, “feeling the nurturing energy of my ancestors.”

This story touched me deeply (being touched deeply, by the way, is a clue that you need to pay attention), and illustrates the point I’m hoping to make in this reflection. There are all kinds of opportunities and lessons out there just waiting for us to notice them. But we have to be properly ready and willing to accept them in order to recognize their significance. For instance, the woman in this story told me she probably would not have accepted the quilt when she was younger because she held pain in her heart about the way she was raised. As such, had she come across it 10 or 15 years earlier (maybe even 6 months earlier, who knows), she might not have recognized its importance to her.

But it did happen when it happened, not nearly 60 years late, nor 10 or 15 years early, not even 6 months early or late. It happened right on time.

So think about how you look at the experiences in your life, how you find meaning in them. Do you see some as having happened too early, or others as having happened later than you like? Do you say things like, “Education is wasted on the young?” What happens to your thinking when you decide everything happens right when it should?

Take a final look at the object you chose this week. What were the circumstances that brought it into your life? If you look close enough at it, I bet the timing was perfect.

Link to Book: “My Grandfather’s Blessings”