Joy in giving: Ordinary Hero Narayanan Krishnan

Give. I know, I know. Tis the season. What else does one do this time of year? Look. Listen.

The food will give them physical nutrition. The love and affection that you show will give them mental nutrition. ... What is the ultimate purpose of life? It is to give. Start giving! See the joy of giving.

Narayanan Krishnan
from the video

What is your purpose?

Have you found your purpose in life? How do you feel in this moment? What does Krishnan's story evoke in you? What, if anything, will you change from this moment going forward?

It's only fair, if I ask those questions, that I answer them myself. My purpose is to do all I can to create the world of Ordinary now, and to build on the vision, that future generations might have a chance to live in a more fair, more just, more sustainable, more beautiful, more loving, more compassionate world than we create now.

In this moment, having just watched the video again, I feel joy at the thought of this man, like so many others round the world, seeing a need in his community and filling it. Doing what he can. This evokes in me a deep desire to continue with my efforts to give of my best skills and talents to change the world, in the ways that I know, in ways I have yet to discover.

I know I am not the person to feed, clothe, and bathe the hungry and the homeless, not yet anyway. Going forward, I will keep Narayanan Krisnan in my heart and this video in the side bar of my blog until I no longer need to be reminded every morning to stay on track, to do what I can, to increase the "what I can" as much as possible, and never to doubt that one person's actions, one person's gifts from her heart, from his heart, are enough.

Dear Mr. Narayanan Krishnan

Thank you for the love in your heart. Thank you for your willingness to touch and heal and feed and groom and hug and love. You are my personal hero today and every day. I pray that you have everything you need to continue your work, and that your body, heart and mind continue to be nourished in full measure.

Ordinary Heroes Award
© L Kathryn Grace

All rights reserved

With deepest gratitude to my good blogger friend Wanda for introducing me to to Narayanan Krishnan and his work on her always inspirational, frequently funny and ever life-affirming blog, What would Wanda do?.

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We make peace in a million small ways every day.

All text and images, unless otherwise noted, copyright L. Kathryn Grace. All rights reserved.

Wanda did it

© L Kathryn Grace
All rights reserved

She tagged me. The rules, near as I can tell, are to divulge seven things you might not already know about me, then turn the favor on seven more bloggers. Any excuse I have to introduce a few of my favorite bloggers, I'll take.

1. Until this year, 2010, the word "potluck" sent such performance anxiety through my body that you might have seen me blanch before I turned away. Suddenly, with more time to enjoy it, I find I love cooking. I'm becoming a foodie! Potluck? Bring it on!
2. After all these years, the rumble of a Harley still quickens my blood. I stop on the street with my granddaughter, reverently pointing out the details of a vintage cherry red bike, replete with black leather saddle bags. Unfortunately, now she's fascinated with motorcycles and wants to ride every one she sees!
3. The year the full moon occurred on the Summer Solstice, I stayed outside all night on a grass-covered hillside, under that bright light, talking with a new-made friend who, earlier, had danced before the bonfire, her fringed shawl etching raven wings gently opening and closing in the shadows and light. I no longer remember her name or what we talked so earnestly about all those hours, but I remember the scents of the meadow, nearby animals, our breath on the cold air, and the light coming over the hill at dawn.
4. Love me Tender is one of the Elvis songs that still makes me as quivery inside as a school girl.
5. Once upon a time, I dreamed I had written a book: An Acclimation of Glory. I held the heavy tome in my hand, its shiny white cover brilliant with red lettering. I have no idea where that came from, or why, from time to time, I dream it again.
6. I saw my partner in a vision, and knew she was a musician with short black hair, years before I met her, yet at first I did not recognize her. Next month, we celebrate 22 years together. I hope we can be married, legally, before we die.
7. I am convinced that the whole world would be happier and more peaceful if we drummed and danced more, shopped less.

There are so many bloggers I love to read. In this list, some old faves and some recently discovered. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Deb Shucka of Catbird Scout
Curbstone Valley Farm
Lynn Hasselberger of I Count for My Earth
Margaret and Helen
Paul of Wondering
Arina of Lots of Life in One Place
Guyana-Gyal

Tag! You're it!

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We make peace in a million small ways every day.

All text and images, unless otherwise noted, copyright © L Kathryn Grace. All rights reserved.